Tuesday, December 20, 2022
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The last Sunday of November in 1992 I remember being invited to a small group “white elephant” party at the Bartee’s home, where I first met Dick and Sally Carter. It was a fun evening, and I was introduced to the “Mr. T Lamp” and heard tales of a dog’s stuffed hindquarters being mounted on a plaque, allegedly by the Carter’s. I knew then that Sally (and Dick) possessed a unique sense of humor.
Once Jody and the girls were able to join me in Greenville, we joined Shannon Forest Presbyterian, and we remember Dick and Sally inviting us to their fellowship group that met for coffee, refreshments, and prayer between worship and Sunday School. They assured us that the other group was “too old” for them.
Sally and Jody spent a great deal of time together working on the Wednesday night suppers. Sally knew all the best places for getting food items on sale and was a maestro at working a recipe to ensure quality and great taste, while also “stretching” the quantity. She found a way to keep the cost minimal and yet still fund the procurement of better kitchen equipment. Jody learned a lot from Sally as a chef and kitchen administrator while enjoying fellowship as sisters-in-Christ.
Sally never let her rheumatoid arthritis slow her down, though she learned that others could take her direction and do the things (cooking and otherwise) that she could no longer do as she wished. She led by example and by always finding a way to press on, much the way she lived her spiritual life – study Scripture, praying, and never afraid to ask pertinent and sometimes pointed questions when our small group gathered to study, fellowship, and pray together.
When Dick would travel for business, at Sally’s insistence they kept a .410 shotgun in the bedroom for Sally and the family’s protection. Dick had the shotgun trigger modified to make it easier to squeeze off a round – some would call that a “hair trigger.” As we heard the story, one night when Dick was gone, Sally heard a commotion at the back of the house. She grabbed the shotgun and had it ready for an intruder or varmint or whatever, but apparently touched the trigger before she intended to, and thus blew away part of the footboard of their bed! Our small group always rolled with laughter when Dick would recount the tale and remind us all that she was like Texas – “don’t mess with Sally!”
We are sad to no longer be able to see Sally’s smile nor hear her voice nor enjoy her presence and fellowship. We are grateful to know that Sally loves Jesus Christ our Lord and that she is now joyfully in His presence. We pray for Dick and the rest of the Carter clan that they will be given God’s enabling grace to grieve well.
