Lucile Fortuna Carter

Lucile Fortuna Carter, 90, passed away quietly on April 8, 2023. She was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years Don Carter (2019). Lucile and Don made Gainesville their home in 1957. Over the next six decades, they devoted much of their lives to the betterment of this community and the preservation of North Georgia's natural beauty. Simply put, Lucile and Don believed that they bettered their family when they bettered their community.
Lucile is survived by her children: Dee Ann Benton (David), Steve Carter, and Doug Carter (Sandy), all of Gainesville; her grandchildren Laura Lane Louie (Thomas) of Greenville, SC, Mark Benton (Lindsey) of Long Beach, CA, and Lauren Carter of Atlanta, GA; and four great grandchildren, Ann Carter Louie, Camille Louie, Emmie Benton, and Kate Benton. She is also survived by her brother Don Fortuna (Genevieve) of Asheville, NC and her sister Lee Glover (David) of Dothan, AL. Lucile was preceded in death by her parents, Lou and Louis Fortuna, daughter Carol Lane Carter, grandson Shaw Carter, and brother Ken Fortuna.
Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Lucile (Cile) spent her early years in Biloxi, MS and later moved with her family to Atlanta. A graduate of Druid Hills High School (1950,Salutatorian), Lucile went on to Mercer University in Macon where she joined her beloved Phi Mu Sorority and eventually, graduated with an AB in History (1953, Suma cum laude). It was during her sophomore year that she met Don, and they were married at Christmas during their senior year.
Following Don's service in the army (Camp Stewart), the couple brought their young family to Gainesville where a new chapter of service began. Lucile focused her volunteerism on education, the arts, and historical preservation. What began as a term on the Enota Elementary PTA, would culminate in serving 13 years on the Gainesville City Schools Board of Education (Chairman 1980-82). During the 1960's and 70's, Lucile was a powerful voice for inclusion and peace during the Civil Rights Movement and the desegregation of the city school system. In later years, one of her greatest joys was the Gainesville High Booster Club which she and a dedicated group of volunteers founded and promoted for the enrichment of every grade level and field of study in the system. In 2009, Lucile's service was honored with the first honorary degree from Gainesville High School. Lucile was also a Trustee of the Gainesville Junior College and a Trustee of Mercer University.
Other service included the Gainesville Community Foundation, the Gainesville Planning and Appeals Board, and Lucile was past president of the Gainesville Junior Service League. She was a member of The First Baptist Church of Gainesville, teaching Sunday School for 12 years. The Gainesville Rotary Club honored Lucile as "Woman of the Year" in 1988.
Throughout their lives, Lucile and Don were avid supporters and collectors of local artists and craftsmen (many of them women). Lucile served on several boards related to her love of the arts, the Georgia Citizens for the Arts, and Gainesville's Quinlan Visual Arts Center. In 2022, the Quinlan honored Lucile for her lifetime of service with the title of "Honorary Trustee."
As an extension of her love of the arts (and antiques), Lucile served on the Georgia Trust for Historical Preservation and the Georgia Mountains Historical and Cultural Trust. One of Don and Lucile's first forays into historic preservation was the restoration of Candler Street Elementary School.
On a far larger scale, Don and Lucile developed the second home community of "Skylake" in Sautee, GA. Previously a summer camp, Don and Lucile preserved the existing structures and added a working General Store and a Drug Store Museum. While the stores are no longer there, the development is now comprised of over 700 permanent and second homes.
Don and Lucile saw the "dream of a lifetime" come true on July 15, 2013, with the opening of "Don Carter State Park." As the only state park on Lake Lanier, their vision was affordable access and recreation for all people regardless of economic or social standing.
None of these would have been possible without the friendship and support of Jimmy Carter. What began with Lucile and Don handing out "Carter for Governor" buttons on a Green Street parade route would end up not so many years later watching President Carter and First Lady Rosalyn walking up Pennsylvania Avenue. Lucile's service included appointment to the Governor's Commission on the Status of Women and Don served 29 years on the Board of Natural Resources. Lucile also served as a delegate to the 1972 and 1976 Democratic National Conventions where she was a passionate (but sweetly southern) voice for the rights of women and minority groups.
In closing, Lucile Carter taught her children, "Your sense of self-worth should never come at the expense of someone else's sense of self-worth. Be kind and compassionate." Her love of family, friends, and community were direct expressions of her kindness and compassion, and a life guided by Jesus' teachings.
At Lucile's instruction, there will not be a memorial service, only a private, graveside service. However, if you would like to celebrate her life... Read a book with a child...Laugh with Snoopy... Buy a work of art... Dine out...Listen to Tony Bennett...Cheer on the Braves and Go Big Red athletics and theatre!...Take a walk in the State Park and admire the beauty of North Georgia.
In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to the "Shaw Carter Memorial Fund" at Young Harris College, P.O. Box 275, Young Harris, GA 30582. Lucile's grandson Shaw love his time at YHC every bit as much as Lucile loved her time at Mercer. Shaw's Fund helps current students overcome unexpected financial challenges that might otherwise force them to drop out. The Fund comes to the rescue and enables these students to realize their dreams, as Shaw did his.
With deepest appreciation for their care, the family thanks: Dr. Bill Coates, Eloise Sheats, Brenda Hulsey, Liz Adams, Cathy Davis, Jamieson Allen, Ann Piselli, Dr. Art Powell, Suzette Watson, Lara McHugh, Debra Cohen, Nianne Timpone, Haydee Hurtado and family, Scotty Barton and the Staff of Riverside Pharmacy, Tracy Vardeman, Lucile's physicians and their staffs, Idiat Falada, and the Hospice and Palliative Care Teams of NGMC especially Dayna, Kerry, Rosa, Kesha, Katrina, and James.
Those wishing to send online condolences to the family may do so at littledavenport.com
Little & Davenport Funeral Home and Crematory, 355 Dawsonville Highway, SW, Gainesville, Georgia 30501 is in charge of arrangements.