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Bidding farewell to a gentle giant
By: Kim Swindell Wood
Newsroom Manager
<A HREF="mailto:editor1@blomand.net">editor1@blomand.net</A>
Elmore Carter Jr. gently held his only granddaughter, Gracie, during a
special ceremony this past March at the Sparta Masonic Lodge. Carter, along
with several other members of the Sparta Police Department, were honored for
their bravery in protecting the students, staff and faculty from a gunman who
entered the school. Carter passed away on Tuesday after suffering a heart
attack.
"We are all just in shock," said Jeff Guth, Sparta Police chief, about the
unexpected death of fellow police officer Junior Carter on Tuesday. "We have
lost a great officer, a great man and a great friend."
Early Elmore Carter Jr., 61, lived his entire life in White County, TN. This
giant of a man towered over many of his fellow officers in height, but his
personality and demeanor was as gentle as one of God’s meekest lambs in the
pasture field.
Carter began his career in law enforcement in the 70’s at the White County
Sheriff Department, during a time when the county was protected by
approximately four to five deputies. He loved his profession, but the sound
of the big wheels and the smell of diesel kept calling him, and Carter
returned to truck driving at least two times during his law enforcement
career.
Carter eventually went to work for the Sparta Police Department on Jan. 7,
1991. He had worked his way through the ranks and earned the title of
sergeant.
At approximately 4:15 p.m., Aug. 13, 2002, Guth received a call from E-911
that advised him Carter had suffered a heart attack while he was
four-wheeling in the England Cove area with his cousin and former companion
in law enforcement, Jack Howell. According to a report filed by the White
County Sheriff Department, Carter and Howell were riding four-wheelers, when
Carter slumped over and fell off his four-wheeler.
According to the report, Carter complained of shortness of breath and said
his chest was hurting. The pair apparently went to level ground approximately
30 yards away, and at this point, Carter quit breathing. Howell performed CPR
on Carter approximately 45 minutes and said Carter did regain his breath one
time during the CPR. According to the report, Howell drove his four-wheeler
until he had a signal on his cell phone and call E-911.
Guth said Putnam County Rescue Squad brought their equipment to England Cove
to bring Carter from the location. According to Guth, the terrain was so
rough, the special Gator all-terrain vehicle used for rescue had to be
winched at various points to pull it to the area where Carter was located.
The entire Sparta Police Department was visibly in a very emotional state on
Wednesday morning when The Expositor spoke with Guth. "It’s just a shock to
this department," he said. "Junior lived life to its fullest. He could be
firm if he had to be, but if you ever broke through, you discovered he was a
real tenderhearted man."
Guth said he and Carter had talked about Carter retiring in the near future.
"We even talked about his dad dying at a very young age from a heart attack,"
he said, " and that worried him."
According to everyone who knew Carter, "what you saw was what you got." He
never pretended to be someone besides the person he really was. "Junior was
the same all the time," said Guth. "He didn’t change his personality for the
situation. He knew everyone and that really helped us, because we’re a fairly
young department."
Guth said Carter’s maturity lent stability to the Sparta Police Department.
"When you lose someone like this, it hurts," he said. "We’re all
hurting."
According to Guth, Carter was not afraid of anything. "He was always there to
back you up," he said. "He was a good friend."
The memories of the playful carefree side of Carter brought a smile to Guth’s
face when he talked about a bucket Carter used to carry in his patrol car.
"If he saw a bolt or anything shiny on the side of the road, he’d stop and
pick it up," said Guth. "Junior said a person never knew when he might need a
bolt."
The entire family of law enforcement in White County has felt the impact of
the death of Sgt. E.E. Carter Jr. (Junior). "We’re just going through the
motions," said Guth. "It’s just like a member of our family has died. It
makes us realize how fragile life really is."
Services for Carter will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, at the First United
Methodist Church. Complete details of the arrangements can be found in the
obituary section of this edition of The Expositor.
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Elmore Carter Jr., 61, of Sparta, passed away Aug. 13, 2002.
Carter was born Dec. 13, 1940, in White County, TN to Elmore Carter and
Rowena Nash Carter.
He had been employed by the Sparta Police Department as a law enforcement
officer.
Carter was preceded in death by his father.
Survivors include his wife, Lois Carter of Sparta; one son and
daughter-in-law, Mike and Lisa Carter of Sparta; one daughter and son-in-law,
Lisa and Mike Stutz of Nashville; mother, Rowena Hayes of Sparta; one sister,
Barbara Lacy of Sparta; one brother, Ronnie Carter of Sparta; and three
grandchildren Blake, Jared and Gracie.
Arrangements:
Services will be held at 11 a.m., Aug. 16, 2002, at Sparta First United
Methodist Church with burial in Saylors Cemetery. Bro. Kenneth Brown and Bro.
Jeff Guth will officiate.
Thurman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.