Juanita Joyce Smith Carter

1936 - 2012

Juanita Joyce Smith Carter

April 29, 1936-- March 14, 2012

Gautier, Mississippi

Juanita Joyce Smith Carter passed away peacefully at Infirmary West Hospital in Mobile, Alabama on Wednesday March 14, 2012, with her family surrounding her.

She was born on April 29, 1936 in Nashville, Tennessee, to parents Albert Lee and Thelma Louise Smith. She grew up in Nashville, where she attended Central High School and then began a life long journey with her best friend and surviving husband Robert A. "Bob" Carter, Sr. on their wedding day November 26, 1952. The love and happiness they shared for over 59 years, was an example for all of their family and friends of a true love story. Their adventures included living in many parts of the country, as well as extensive travels around the world for fun, fellowship and service for others. Their marriage produced two surviving sons, Robert A. "Rocky" Carter, Jr. and Ricky A. Carter and wife Judy, all of Gautier, Mississippi.

She was affectionately known as "Nana" to her 8 surviving grandchildren: Leah Michelle (John) Hussung, Elizabeth Shawn (John) Torbert, Christina Louise (Dustin) Stacy, Ricky A. "Richie"(Olivia) Carter II, Amanda Joyce (Doug) Donaldson, Rebecca Ann (Keith) Durham, Georgianna Lee (Kyle) Stacy and Jada Breeann Carter; and 11 great grandchildren: Garrett Torbert, Gavin Torbert, Cara Durham, Abby Carter, Bailey Carter, John Mills Hussung, Tristan Durham, Aidan Durham, Bryant Carter, Marleigh Hussung and Madeline Donaldson.

She enjoyed all types of crafts, hobbies and games; always teaching and playing to win. She was very active for many years in ceramic classes/workshops with her special Ocean Springs friends. She shared her treasured personal creations with family and friends, always with much love and pride. She loved to entertain in her home by cooking and serving home cooked meals, often with the latest new recipes, and always having plenty on the table for whoever happened to stop by! She read constantly for entertainment, always knowing the best new books and authors, and sharing from her vast library with anyone she could encourage to pick up reading as a hobby. She was always quick with her opinion of new music, new movies, new authors and new politicians!

She so enjoyed her flowers, gardens and trees, especially her favorite Southern Magnolias, being an original Southern Belle. Now, a Memorial Garden, with a Southern Magnolia as its centerpiece, is being created by her surviving brother-in-law William T. "Bill" Carter and wife Anna, and her surviving sister-in-laws Reba Ann Carter Manning and Marjorie Louise Carter Rajotte, all of Nashville. She is also survived by a brother Robert Toby Smith, sister Jennifer Gail Smith Akey and sister-in-law Alene Smith. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Don Smith.

She joined Blakemore United Methodist Church on Palm Sunday in 1953 and worked with her husband before and after helping to lead MYF (Methodist Youth Fellowship) programs and Sunday School. A Celebration of her Life will be held at Blakemore United Methodist Church, 3601 West End Avenue, Nashville, TN 37205 on Saturday April 7, 2012 at 3:30 p.m. A reception will follow at the church.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to the charity she loved, St. Jude Children's Hospital in Memphis, TN to support research and healthcare for children.