Lucille Carter

Lucille (Smart) Carter passed peacefully from this earthly life to her heavenly home on June 4, 2025. She was born October 8, 1935 in Panhandle, Texas to Joseph Lee Smart and Mattie Belle Long. Lucille was the seventh of nine children born to Lee and Mattie.Lucille married her sweetheart, Billy Glenn Carter on January 11, 1953 in Hamlin, Texas and they shared seventy-two and a half years together. Upon their marriage Billy was drafted into the Army and was shipped off to Korea after completing basic training while Lucille finished high school at McCaulley High School. Lucille worked initially at the telephone office after graduation when Bill was stationed in Korea. She also worked as a nurses aide before beginning a family. After her children were older, she worked for a time at the Neinda Gin running the scales and as a bookkeeper.They raised three children together, Laura (Bob) Hall of Potosi, Tx, John (Robie) Carter of Hamlin, Tx, and Cindy (Tony) Benavides of Idalou, Tx. Her legacy of love includes seven grandchildren, Ryan Hall, Ranie Tilley, Brandon Hall, Shelby Wright, Bradley Carter, Alesha Winegeart, and Bryce Benavides; sixteen great grandkids, Rylee Hall, Brody Hall, Kadence Hall, Micah Hall, Katelyn Tilley, Michaela Adkins, Pyper Tilley, Paisley Hall, Stoker Hall, Everly Hall, Jo Anna Wright, Elijah Carter, Mattie Winegeart, Stetson Winegeart, Clara Winegeart, Carter Winegeart; and one great great grandson, Kolby Campbell.Lucille was always known for her very sweet and kind personality. She was the perfect hostess and had a way of making everyone feel they were the most important person in the room. Lucille cherished her role as a wife, mother, homemaker, friend and follower of Christ. She devoted herself to raising her family and caring for others. She enjoyed cooking, canning and tending to her flowers. She enjoyed working crossword puzzles and could almost always be found watching Wheel of Fortune.She was a member of the Hamlin Foursquare Church and participated in the Hamlin Garden Club where she enjoyed community and friendship among fellow members. She is survived by her husband, Billy Carter; her children and their families, sisters, Lorene Dowell and LaVerne (Butch) Glass, and numerous nieces, nephews and friends, and special friend, Joice Pillans.Lucille was preceded in death by her parents, Lee and Mattie (Long) Smart, brothers R.L. Smart, Verlous Smart, Carl Smart and Delbert Smart, and sisters, Neoma Bailey and Pauline Smith.Visitation will be held Thursday, June 5, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Adams-Foster-Ray Funeral Home in Hamlin. Funeral service will be on Friday, June 6, 2025, at 11:00 AM at New Beginnings Church, followed by burial in McCaulley Cemetery. Lucille will be deeply missed by all who knew her and will forever remain in their hearts.