Rebecca Carter

REBECCA JACKSON CARTER, age 96, went to her heavenly home on August 31, 2010. She was born on October 26, 1913 in Tupelo, Mississippi to Albert Harrison Jackson and Mary McCord Jackson, the first of their 8 children. When Rebecca was 12 years old, she was run over by a car, which broke her back and kept her in the hospital in Memphis for approximately a year. Mrs. Carter graduated from Tupelo High School in 1932, and went on to Goodman Junior College. She was also a graduate of Draughans Business College in Jackson, MS. She met her future husband, Harvey Russell Carter, of Quitman, Mississippi, in a revival at First Baptist Church in Tupelo, where he was leading the music. They were married on September 6, 1938 in Tupelo. After living in Tupelo and Little Rock, Arkansas, the couple settled down in Jackson, Mississippi, hoping to raise a family. After losing several children through miscarriages, they finally had a baby girl in 1949. Mrs. Carter worked as a bookkeeper for the Mississippi Veterans Farm and Home Board until retirement. After she retired, she continued to work as a bookkeeper for several small businesses in Jackson. She and her family were very active in First Baptist Church of Jackson, living right across the street from the church for many years. Mrs. Carter taught Sunday School for over 40 years and was active in the WMU. In 1982, the Carters moved to Sherman, Texas to be near their daughter and their 4 grandchildren. They immediately joined and became active at First Baptist Church in Sherman, where they made many new friends. In 1995, Mrs. Carter, by now a widow, returned to Tupelo and once again enmeshed herself into her family and friends still there and in Harrisburg Baptist Church. In May 2000, Mrs. Carter broke her hip in 2 places and after 4 surgeries, she was unable to walk again. In August of 2000, she moved to Knoxville, Tennessee to live with her daughter and son-in-law, where she remained until her death.
Mrs. Carter was preceded in death by her parents, husband Russell Carter, brothers James, Robert, and Jessie, sisters Virginia and Sadie Bell Jackson. Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Becky and John Cleveland, Knoxville; 4 grandchildren: Curt Taylor, Kingman, KS; Carter Taylor, Los Angeles, CA; Casey Taylor, Glacier National Park, Montana; and Clancy Taylor, DeSoto, TX; also 4 great-grandchildren, Jordan, Austin, Teon, and Bailey. Also surviving are sisters Prudy Parish (Ralph) of Memphis, and Margaret Snipes, Mountain View, AR, sister-in-law Billie Jackson, Tupelo, MS; many nieces, nephews, other family members, and a multitude of friends. Also left to mourn is a very special friend who helped care for her over 9 years in Knoxville, Judy Reno, as well as special caregiver Kenya Edkis.
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. on Saturday, September 4 at Pegues Funeral Home, 535 West Jefferson Street, in Tupelo.
The funeral service will be held on Sunday, September 5, at 2:00 p.m., also at Pegues. Burial will follow at Glenwood Cemetery. Pallbearers will be nephews Ricky Jackson and Horton Nash of Tupelo, Jim Jackson of Jackson, Bruce Jackson of Newton, MS, Tim Parish of Memphis, Glenn Herrington of Birmingham, and grandson Curt Taylor of Kingman, KS. Memorials may be made to Harrisburg Baptist Church, Tupelo, MS, First Baptist Church, Jackson, MS, or a charity of your choice.