Jerry U. Carter

Dr. Jerry Upshaw Carter was born on June 26, 1948, in Nashville, Tennessee, and passed away peacefully on March 28, 2025, forever loved and missed by his family.
Dr. Carter graduated from Battle Ground Academy, Vanderbilt University, The University of Tennessee College of Medicine, and The University of Tennessee College of Business. He championed the importance of education, and he believed in the practice and benefits of philanthropy.
Dr. Carter was a medical doctor and ultimately united his avocation and vocation by becoming a family practitioner in West Tennessee. He faithfully served over 10,000 patients during his decades-long career and was known for his compassion, dedication, and commitment to patient care.
Dr. Carter was an avid sports fan and a voracious reader of books particularly books on history. He also loved his children and taught his children the importance of persistence, determination, and learning from mistakes to further development. His children are deeply saddened by the passing of their loving father.
Dr. Carter is survived by three sons: (i) Christopher Carter, a serial entrepreneur and avid skier, who resides in Telluride, Colorado, with his wife, Bevin Carter, and their three sons, Banks, Ash, and Hawthorne Carter; (ii) Jerry Carter II, a commercial real estate and M&A attorney, who resides in Tokyo, Japan, with his loving wife and their beautiful daughter; and (iii) Brian Carter, an entrepreneur and ball python specialist, who resides in Knoxville, Tennessee, with his wife, Beth Ann, and their children, Brody Jackson Carter, Maggie Carter, and Brian Carter II.
Dr. Carter descends from a distinguished line of medical and business professionals, educators, and civic leaders. He was the son of Dr. Oscar Willis Carter, a urologist who performed more than 17,000 complicated medical procedures, and Margaret Eugenia Carter, an educator in hospital nutrition and dietetics who was the Head Dietitian at Emory University Hospital.
Dr. Carter's paternal grandparents were Ashbel Edward Carter and Estella Willis Carter from the State of North Carolina; they were gracious supporters of Mars Hill College because, among other reasons, a family member was one of the founders of it. His maternal grandparents were Olin Eugene Upshaw and Mabel Chloe Upshaw from the State of Georgia; they owned and managed one of the most innovative and active general stores in the State of Georgia for over 50 years.
Dr. Carter excelled in Latin in high school and his senior quote in his yearbook was "veni, vidi, vici," which famous quote is attributed to Julius Ceasar. His sons believe he achieved the meaning of the quote-he came, he saw, and he conquered-because, as Julius Ceaser is also attributed as saying, "experience is the teacher of all things."
"Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death." (New International Version, Isaiah 57:2).