Raymond J. Carter, Col, USAR, Ret.

Raymond Carter, a resident of Biloxi, died in the company of family on Saturday, February 11, 2023, after a short, valiant fight with cancer.

Born June 11, 1934, in Louisville, Mississippi, the first son of Jesse and Fronnie (Roebuck) Carter, Raymond grew up on farms while playing baseball for his high school team.

Graduating from Louisville High School, Raymond enlisted in the United States Air Force in July 1952 and attended basic training at Lackland AFB, San Antonio, Texas. Raymond served at Randolph AFB and bases on Hawaii and other Pacific Islands. Honorably discharged in July 1956, Raymond returned to Mississippi and using the G.I. Bill, attended East Central Junior College and Delta State College, receiving a Bachelor’s degree in Education. In 1961, Raymond began his long career with the Biloxi Public Schools teaching history, government, and science at Biloxi High School. From 1967 to 1968 Raymond attended the University of Mississippi graduate school earning a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education. Returning to Biloxi, Raymond served as assistant principal at Nichols Junior High, principal at Fernwood Junior High and later, Howard II Elementary. Raymond completed his career as Director of Gifted and Special Education programs.

Also on return to Mississippi, Raymond enlisted in the Army National Guard and after college was sent to Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia, where Raymond was commissioned a Second Lieutenant, Infantry Branch. During his career, Raymond qualified as a Transportation Corps and a Field Artillery officer. Raymond served in National Guard units in Louisville, Biloxi, Bay St. Louis, and Jackson, Mississippi. After transferring to the US Army Reserves, Raymond served as a Team Chief and a Division Chief in the 2^nd MTC, 87^th Division in Jackson. Mississippi. After over 40 years of military service, Raymond retired as a Colonel in the United States Army Reserve.

A member of the Methodist faith, Raymond attended First Methodist Church and Beauvoir Methodist Church, both in Biloxi. Raymond was a Master Mason and member of Polar Star Lodge No. 154. For many years Raymond was an active member of the Biloxi Kiwanis Club, serving in committee leadership roles. Raymond was a long time member of the Les Pierrots men’s carnival krewe and volunteered with the Gulf Coast Carnival Association. An enthusiastic baseball fan, Raymond first followed the St. Louis Cardinals and in later years the Atlanta Braves.

Raymond was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Julia (Strange) Carter, his brother Ezell Carter, his grandson Donald Paul Carter, and his ever faithful Pomeranian, Buddy.

Raymond is survived by his children Raymond (Teri) Carter, Jeanne (Alwyn) Luckey, Janice (Greg) Stevens, Michael (Gwendolyn) Carter, James (Gale) Bonnett, and Lorena (Scott) Weinkle; by his grandchildren Crystal (Jason) Gazafy, Laurel Luckey, Taylor (Luke) Brennan, Jackson Stevens, William Carter, Ellen Weinkle, and Emily Weinkle; and by his great-grandchildren, Cornelius Brennan, Sean Gazafy, Chase Gazafy, Annabelle Gazafy, and Alex Gazafy.

Visitation will be Friday, February 17, 2023, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m., at Riemann Funeral Home, 274 Beauvoir Road, Biloxi, and graveside service at the Biloxi VA Cemetery at 11:00.

In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to the Humane Society of South Mississippi at www.hssm.org or the Habitat for Humanity at www.habitat.org.