Phillip Earl Carter

Lieutenant Colonel Phillip Earl Carter, U.S. Army (Ret.)

Phillip Earl Carter, 72, of Suwanee, Georgia, passed away peacefully on July 28, 2025. Lt. Col. Carter was born on June 7, 1953, in Birkenhead, England, to an American GI and British mother, John and Edith (Edie). Being a military family, they moved quite a bit, but his years in a small French town were the most memorable of his early life. They returned to the US and settled in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, for Phil's middle and high school years. Phil graduated from Western Kentucky University and received a Master's Degree in Healthcare Administration and Finance from Central Michigan University.

Phil entered the US Army in 1976 and served 20 years in Logistics Command and training management. He began as a Field Artillery Cannon Battery Officer and Nuclear Chemical Target Analyst, was a parachutist with the 101st Airborne, completed Jungle Warfare School in Panama and served in Desert Storm where he planned and built a city that housed 15,000 people, and developed a network of roads, fire and police services, medical facilities and food operations. He finished his service in Public Relations working at the Pentagon for the Secretary of the Army. His service took him to 42 countries, but his four years in Germany were his most memorable and most talked about.

Phil's decorations and medals included the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, as well as multiple badges and service ribbons.

Following his retirement from the Army, Phil moved on to employment at the American Red Cross Blood Services where he became the Director of Facilities and

Logistics for the Southeast Region, overseeing 18 blood service centers. He remained with the Red Cross for 17 years and officially retired in 2013.

Phil's passion was cooking and he could often be found at his computer researching recipes or browsing through one of his 200 cookbooks at home. He enjoyed wine and bourbon and planning themed cooking parties with friends.

He will also be remembered for his devotion to his faith and family. He was an active member of St. Benedict Catholic Church, ushering at 10:45 Mass, and serving with the Knights of Columbus as a Fourth Degree which emphasizes patriotism and responsible citizenship, encouraging love and loyalty to one's country while upholding the Catholic faith. He also volunteered as a mentor with the Cobb County Veteran's Accountability and Treatment Court which seeks to divert eligible veteran defendants with substance dependency and/or mental illness that are charged with criminal offenses, to a specialized criminal court. The court substitutes a treatment problem-solving model for traditional court processing.

Phil is survived by his wife of 16 years, Christina, his daughters, Madeline and Mary Charlotte, and his sister, Carol. He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Edith Carter.

A funeral Mass will be held at St. Benedict Catholic Church on Friday, August 8, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. (11045 Parsons Road, Johns Creek, GA 30097) The Rosary will be prayed prior to the Mass at 9:30 a.m. and a reception will be held immediately following.

The funeral will be live-streamed and can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@stbenedict3997

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Phil's name to the Holy Redeemer Catholic School Annual Fund: https://www.hrcatholicschool.org/support/annual-fund.cfm

On-line condolences may be expressed at www.crowellbrothers.com. Arrangements entrusted to Crowell Brothers Funeral Homes & Crematory, 5051 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, Peachtree Corners, GA 30092. 770-448-5757.