Obituary of Donald-Harry Carter

Musician, SRS Retiree BEECH ISLAND, S.C. - Donald "Don" Harry Carter, known to gospel and country music fans in the Augusta area as a performer for more than 50 years, died at his home on Wednesday, April 23, 2008, in Beech Island, S.C., after a lengthy illness. He was 81. He was married to popular local entertainer Flo Carter for 62 years. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, April 26, at First Baptist Church of Beech Island with the Revs. Frank R. Hyder and Frank E. Barker officiating. Don was chairman of the board of deacons, a song leader and a Sunday school teacher at the church. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Pallbearers will be grandsons, Alan Boykin, Timothy Quick, Aaron Quick, Ian Quick, Blake Boykin, Trey Padgett and Bryan Williams. Honorary pallbearers will be deacons of the First Baptist Church of Beech Island. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, April 25, at Posey Funeral Home, 1307 Georgia Ave., in North Augusta. Don was born on May 20, 1926, in Thorofare, N.J. He was a senior supervisor in maintenance at the Savannah River Site. He worked at the site 49 years before retiring in 1992. Nicknamed "sticks" due to his reputation as a great drummer, Don regularly was seen on his family's gospel music program, Flo Carter & The Sounds of Joy, on WJBF-TV from 1974 to 1981 and on the Parade of Quartets program from 1981 until his last appearance in March playing drums and singing background vocals. He also sang and played with his group The Rockets at the Bon Air Hotel, Partridge Inn, Golden Camp Inn and other leading Augusta supper clubs in the '50s; on the popular WJBF show Today in Dixie; in hundreds of black and white churches; at scores of area arts festivals and at several events sponsored by the Georgia Music Hall of Fame. He also was a founding member of the Augusta musician's union. He was the son of Gladys Aschen Brenner and Harry Frank Carter and was predeceased by his sister, Dolores Hurst. Besides his wife, his survivors include three daughters, Winona Faith "Cookie" Dodson (Billy Ray), Toni Elizabeth Carter and Donna Sherry Williams, all of Beech Island; his brother, Tony Carter, Leesburg, N.J.; four grandchildren, Michelle Quick (Timothy), Lisa Boykin (Alan), Bryan Williams (Annette) and Kimberly Suzanne Mays; six great-grandchildren, Brandie Nicole Padgett (Trey), Timothy Aaron Quick (Rikki), Patrick Ian Quick, Brittany and Blake Boykin and Kaylee Carmella Mays; numerous nieces and nephews and beloved family friend Rayne Irvine. Posey Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements. (803) 278-1181. Visit the registry online at www.poseyfuneralhome.com . Sign the guestbook at AugustaChronicle.com Sign the guestbook at AugustaChronicle.com