O. Holmes Carter

Published 8:22 pm Tuesday, May 3, 2016

O. Holmes Carter, 79, died on May 1, 2016, surrounded by his family. He was born in Suffolk, the eighth of 12 children of the late Nancy Charlotte “Lottie” and Herbert Oates Carter. He was predeceased by brother, S. Martin Carter, sisters, Alice King and Acene Byrum, and twin infant brothers, Herbert and Hubert.

A lifelong resident of Suffolk and Nansemond County, Holmes was a graduate of Holland High School, where he played football and baseball. He was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Hampton-Sydney College (1958), where he served as president of Chi Beta Phi, an honorary scientific fraternity. He taught science, biology and chemistry at Whaleyville High School. He later joined the family businesses, H.O. Carter Burial Vaults and Virginia Casket Company, managing the businesses along with his brothers, Martin and Don, until 1995.

Holmes accepted Christ as his Savior as a teenager and was a faithful member of Suffolk Pentecostal Holiness Church, now Radiant Life Ministries. It was his joy to be in church, as it was for his mother before him.

He was an avid reader, particularly of history, and enjoyed researching his family history. He loved gardening and fishing, classical music and poetry and collecting coins. He is survived by his sisters and brothers: Joy Johnson, Foy Gwaltney, Peggy Holly, all of Suffolk, Betty DuBose, of Turbeville, S.C., Delmar Carter and Don Carter (Judith), both of Suffolk; and sister-in-law, Eleanor Carter, of Columbia, S.C.

A funeral service will be held Friday, May 6, 2016, at 11 a.m. at Radiant Life Ministries, 100 Kilby Shores Drive, Suffolk, with the Rev. Don Milner officiating, followed by a burial in Cedar Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday, May 5, 2016, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home and Crematory, 509 W. Washington St., Suffolk. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that friends donate to the Building Fund at Radiant Life Ministries. Condolences may be offered at www.RWBakerFH.com.