John Carter

A service to celebrate the life of John Carter, 79, of Athens, is scheduled for 2:00 p.m., Sunday, February 16, 2025, at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home of Athens with Dr. Matt Carter and Pastor Trey Barron officiating. Interment will follow at Grape Creek Cemetery near Corsicana at 4:00 p.m.
Johnnie Lee Carter was surrounded by his family when he went home to be with the Lord on February 13th, 2025.
John was born on August 5th, 1945, to Burton Wayne and Inez (Watson) Carter. He attended Mesquite High School in Mesquite, Tx and graduated in 1963. He received a bachelor's degree in marketing from North Texas State University in 1968. Shortly after the Vietnam War began, John went to Basic Training and served in the Army National Guard as a mortar gunner for 6 years. In 1965, he began his rookie year at the Dallas Fire Department where he served as a paramedic and fireman. John would ultimately rise to the rank of Captain and served at Station #4 in Downtown Dallas until his retirement in January of 2000.
During his junior year in high school, John met Shirley Anne King, an identical twin, who would be the mother of his children and his loving wife for 37 years. In November of 2002, John tragically lost Shirley to a sudden illness. After walking a difficult road, God blessed John a second time when he met Nellie Joyce Scruggs. They were married a short time later and had a loving marriage, faithfully serving the Lord together for 22 years. During his retirement, John found his true calling by serving as a mentor to men at the Wainwrite Unit Prison in Lovelady, Tx. Every Monday for over a decade, rain or shine, he would drive to the prison to tell the men about the love of Jesus. John adored his family and was affectionately known as "Gdaddy" by his 26 grandchildren and great grandchildren.
John is preceded in death by his first wife Shirley, his parents, BW and Inez and his sister Joyce.
He is survived by his wife Nell, his brother Jerry Carter and wife Marylynn; his son Matt Carter and wife Jennifer; his daughter Amy Clark and husband Chris; his stepdaughter Stacie Strange and husband Derrell. His stepson, Terry Knight and wife Rhonda; and Richard Knight and wife Kiana.
A visitation will be held prior to the service from 1-2:00 p.m., Sunday, February 16, 2025, at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home of Athens.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home family.