Mrs. Evelyn Jean Carter

6 Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Evelyn Jean Simpson was born on February 23, 1943 in Carolina Township, Pitt County, NC to Bessie Lee Adams Simpson and Curtis Leroy Simpson. In her early life, she grew up and was educated in Greenville, NC and graduated from CM Eppes High School. "Jean" as she is affectionately known, departed this life, bound for a new life, on June 23, 2023, at 5:53pm. Post high school, Jean turned her sights towards North Carolina College (now NCCU) where she majored in French. Additionally, while there, she was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, through the Alpha Chi Chapter in the Spring of 1961. After graduating from college, she met and married Lt. Edward Earl Carter, US Army, of Havelock, NC. During the early years of their marriage as a military family, they lived in a variety of locations, such as Lawton, OK, Prairie View, El Paso, and Houston, Tx, and Glassboro and Pedricktown, New Jersey. During this time, they had two daughters–Regina Yvette and Tonya Denise. Ultimately, Jean and her growing family returned to her hometown of Greenville, NC when her husband resigned his commission to take a job with Burroughs Wellcome. They welcomed their youngest daughter, Jacquelyn Tamu. Jean then seized the opportunity to obtain a Master's Degree in Library Science from East Carolina University and began her career as a Librarian and Educator with Greenville City and Pitt County Schools. During most of her tenure, over 30 years, she served as the school librarian at South Greenville Elementary School. During that time Jean taught and inspired thousands of students to fall in love with reading and find themselves in not just the words on the page, but also in the sounds and stories of all people. An avid lover of history, cultural and otherwise, it was not uncommon to see the library displays and hear the readings that highlighted the contributions and diversity of not just the country, but the world. In addition to her professional accomplishments, Jean took the opportunity to utilize her gifts with the community through her sorority. A Life and Golden Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and a Charter Member of the Iota Kappa Omega Chapter, she served in a variety of capacities to include Chapter President. In her service work in this organization, she often chose to focus her professional skills and innate abilities to promote literacy and access to literature and educational opportunities. In her role as a committee chair with the sorority, she, other chapter members, and even their families (particularly the children), processed, from Jean's recreation room, thousands of books for the RIF initiative (Reading is Fundamental) for thousands of children and libraries around the county. This project received much media acclaim in Greenville and the surrounding areas. Jean was also an active member of Cornerstone Missionary Baptist Church. Following in the footsteps of her mother, she and her sister, LaVonne, worked with the "Tots" Choir (currently known as the Sonshine Choir). She also served as past Chairman of the CMBC Senior Saints Ministry, Vacation Bible School. One of her greatest loves was singing with her husband, sister, mother, and many others in the CMBC Majestic Choir until her health began to decline. Finally, regarding civic involvement, Jean was an active participant in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s engaging in numerous marches and non-violent protests. Additionally, for several years of her life, she worked with and supported her husband as he held numerous public offices as he served as member and President of the Greenville City School Board, member and Mayor Pro-Tem of the Greenville City Council, and the Mayor of Greenville, NC. Evelyn Jean Simpson Carter leaves to cherish her memory her husband–Edward Earl Carter of Greenville; daughters–Regina Garcia (Romeo) of Greenville, Tonya Carter of West Palm Beach, Fla, and Jacquelyn Rainey (Johnny) of Greenville; her sister—Lavonne Moore (Garrie) of Greenville; her eight grandchildren–Romeo Garcia, III (Jenel), Imani Rainey, Nigel Rainey, Rafael Garcia, Royan Garcia, Jania Rainey, Joseph Rainey, and Noah Rainey; her beloved and devoted friend and nurse–Judy Armstrong, as well as a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. While we wait to meet her on the other side, we continue to feel her with us through those she touched, taught, inspired, served, encouraged, and loved. Her fire and passion for responding to "stirring the gifts" for the good of others continues to live into perpetuity.

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Mrs. Evelyn Jean Carter

February 23, 1943 - June 23, 2023