Mauretta Leslie Carter

 Mauretta Lesley Price Carter, (also known as “Murphy” to many of her friends), of Woolmarket, MS, passed away on February 21, 2025, at the age of 66 surrounded by her family and special friends.

 Mauretta was born on September 4, 1958, in Ipswich, England, (due to being a military brat), but was a lifelong resident of the Coast. She was a 1976 graduate of Gulfport High School and then attended Jefferson Davis Jr College where she received an associate’s degree in business.

 Mauretta had a very successful career in civil service that began in July 1975 with a job through a summer program at Keesler AFB in Civil Engineering. She worked at Keesler for almost 30 years as a Human Resource Specialist in the Civilian Personnel Office. In 2004 she transferred to the Department of Navy Office of Civilian Human Resources at Stennis Space Center where she continued to work as a Human Resource Specialist until her retirement on April 1, 2014.

 Mauretta was very passionate in her desire to help others whether it was in the workplace or in her personal life. She was always ready to lend a helping hand to those in need. She had a friendly and outgoing personality which led to lifelong friendships. She is fondly remembered as the “life of the party” by many of them. She enjoyed spending time with her friends whether it was going to lunch, going camping or just hanging out. She was also known for her fondness for singing karaoke.

 Mauretta was an avid sportswoman over the course of her life and was active in many sports such as softball, basketball, tennis, golfing, soccer, bowling and racquetball. She was a lifetime football enthusiast and was a devoted fan of her beloved Saints team for 60+ years. She started out as a fan on her Daddy’s knee.

Above any of her accomplishments in life, Mauretta’s greatest passion was her family. She loved being a wife, mother, grandmother and sister. She had a close relationship with her children as well as her siblings. She was a constant source of strength and encouragement to each of them.

Mauretta leaves behind her loving and devoted husband of 30 years, Keith Roger Carter; her children, Cody Joseph Carter (Erica), Connor James Carter and JoAnna Marissa Carter; her grandson, Creedence Mitchel Carter; two sisters, Marea L. Morris (Kevin) and Melissa “Misha” Price-Ward (Earnest); her sister-in-law, Barbara (Barb) Lynn Price, her nephew, Christian James Price and great nephew, Ezra Price; nephew, Evan Tomas Price-Ward and niece, Gwyneth Price-Ward. She also leaves behind many close friends who were like family to her.

She was predeceased by her mother, Margarita Josephine Belcher; her father, Dayton David Price and her brother, James Paul Price. The family would like to thank her doctors, Dr. Summer Allen and Dr. Allison Wall for their care and support throughout her medical battles. The family would also like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the Seventh Floor nursing staff at Gulfport Memorial Hospital for not only their kindness and compassionate care towards Mauretta during her last illness, but also the care that they extended to her family. Her light shone like a beacon until her eyes closed in death at which time she was welcomed into the arms of her Savior Jesus Christ.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, March 8, 2025, from 3:00pm to 5:00pm at Riemann Family Funeral Home, 11280 Three Rivers Road, Gulfport, MS. In Mauretta’s honor the family invites you to wear black and gold attire.

In lieu of sending flowers, donations can be made to the Patrick F. Taylor Hope Lodge online or a check may be sent to 2609 River Road, New Orleans, Louisiana. This is a facility that lodges out of town patients receiving cancer treatments at Ochsner Medical Center.