Elizabeth Natalie DeHart Carter

Elizabeth Natalie DeHart Carter, 90, a resident of Brandon Oaks in Roanoke, Va., passed away on Wednesday, November 12, 2008. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Walker Randolph Carter Jr. They were married for 53 years. She was the daughter of the late Emily Rose and Gabriel Gates DeHart Sr., and during her lifetime was a resident of Salem and Roanoke, Va. She was also predeceased by four brothers Gabriel Gates (G.G.) DeHart Jr., Lloyd Elmore DeHart, George Rae (Red) DeHart, and Eugene Overacre DeHart.
She is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Emilee and Gordon (Ted) Garman, of Roanoke, Va.; daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Dan Eitner, of Smith Mountain Lake; and daughter and son-in-law, Natalie and Dudley Woody, of Roanoke. She was a sweet and loving "Mimi" to her granddaughters, Emilee (Lee) Garman, Natalie (Cathie) Garman Shellnut and husband, Ricky, Lauren Woody Pickens and husband, Jim, of Gainsville Ga., and Nancy and Michelle Woody, of Roanoke, Va.; a stepgrandson, Steven Eitner, of Rocky Mount; and stepgranddaughter, Brianne Eitner, of Wake, N.C. She is also survived by three greatgrandchildren, Mikah Secrist, Julian and Isabella Shellnut, of Roanoke, Va. Also surviving are beloved and dear nieces and nephews, Betty Lloyd Stanley and husband, Levon, of Melbourne, Fla., Susan O'Hara and husband, Pat, of New York, Gates DeHart Ill and Thomas DeHart, of Roanoke, Va., and George Rae DeHart Jr., of New York.
She and her husband, Walker, were the first residents to move into Brandon Oaks 15 years ago. She loved her life there, enjoyed being an active resident serving on numerous committees, and always looked forward to meeting new residents with her warm and welcoming personality. She was a very active and long time member of South Roanoke United Methodist Church which she dearly loved. Many years ago she and her husband served on the Search Committee to establish what is now Alta Mons Methodist Camp. She was a member and past president of the Women's Club of Roanoke, past member of Thursday Morning Music Club, and enjoyed attending the Roanoke Symphony performances. She attended Roanoke College, and was a graduate of Virginia Intermont College and Radford College. She was an early childhood educator, starting kindergartens in several Methodist churches in Roanoke. She was a master teacher in the Roanoke City School pilot kindergarten program establishing public school kindergartens. Being the loving mother and accomplished teacher earned her the honor of being named Mother of the Year in Education in 1979.
The family will receive friends at Oakey's Funeral Home downtown Roanoke on Friday, November 14, 2008, from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. Following a private graveside service there will be a memorial service 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 15, 2008, at South Roanoke United Methodist Church in Roanoke, Va., with the Reverend Bill Davidson officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to South Roanoke United Methodist Church, Roanoke, Va.