Carter, Essie Mae Horton

July 4, 1921-November 14, 1993
Daughter of the late Lewis and Addie Gertrude Horton
Married: William Arthur Carter August 3, 1946
Children: William A. Carter, Jr. Jacquelyn Carter Allen Gloria Carter Ward Donald R. Carter
6 grandchildren 8 great-grandchildren

Essie Mae Horton Carter, born and raised in Wilson County, was a loving homemaker and mother for many years. She was an active member in her church from an early age. She was a graduate of Richard B. Harrison High School in Selma and a member of the St. Paul AME Church in Kenly, where she was pianist and church secretary until her health began to fail. She was also pianist for St. Delights FWB Church, Mincey Chapel FWB Church, and Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church in Kenly. She loved music and going to church. Her other hobbies included going to flea markets, shopping, and rearranging and redecorating her home. She loved doing things for others, especially her family.

Essie was the Kenly area agent for the Walter Sanders Funeral Home in Smithfield for many years. In this capacity she was responsible for providing pre-funeral planning. She was also a member of the Friendship Sympathy Club of Kenly. Although it has been inactive for 10 years, the Friendship Sympathy Club's purpose was to help families that had lost loved ones. The club provided flower bearers, pallbearers, nurses, and a mistress of ceremony for families during their bereavement period. Essie served as a mistress of ceremony, flower bearer, and secretary of the club as long as it was active. Essie's commitment to her community was exemplified through her many areas of involvement, which make it difficult to forget her.

Essie also enjoyed travelling and sightseeing. One of her favorite trips was going to Alabama and Atlanta and visiting the burial site of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. She often visited her children and while there enjoyed cooking and treating her family with "homemade biscuits" and other specialty dishes.

"God's finger has touched her and now she sleeps."

Memorial Contribution by Arthur Carter and the children.