Arrangements are being handled by Striffler-Hamby of Columbus, A celebration of Carter's life will be held on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at our location, 4071 Macon Rd. at 11:00 am.
His wife, Susan, was at his side when he passed away.
Carter was the fourth of six children.
He graduated from the University of Arkansas with a mechanical engineering degree. He was ROTC at Arkansas and commissioned as a U.S. Army Infantry officer upon graduation in 1972. He also graduated from Command and General Staff College, U.S. Army in 1987.
He spent 22 years as an Army officer moving from Infantry to Special Forces where he was a Green Beret. He was lieutenant colonel when he retired in 1994. His final assignment was the Army Marksmanship Unit at Fort Benning. He also served in assignments across the Army, including the Pentagon.
After retiring, Carter spent 18 years working as a civilian contractor at Fort Benning teaching combat simulation.
Carter lived in the downtown Columbus Historic District for 45 years.
He was man of many hobbies and an avid collector. He has hundreds of pigs, a constant reminder of his beloved Arkansas Razorbacks.
He also has an extensive collection of Pez dispensers. It takes up and entire room in his home and is the envy of every kid – big and little – who has ever walked into the house.
Gardening was not only a hobby, but a passion. He had fertile patch in his backyard and produced tomatoes, peas, peppers and all kinds of goodness. Carter would grow it, Susan would can it and neighbors and friends would get pickles and jams.
He was a longtime member of the Columbus Exchange Club, volunteering for hot dog sales and pancake breakfasts.
He was a life member of the Military Marksmanship Unit Association.
When hockey came to Columbus in the 1990s, he was a volunteer timekeeper for the Cottonmouths. He was also one of the original volunteers for the Columbus Olympic effort in 1996 and he and Susan continued to volunteer for the local Sports Council after the Olympics.
Raised in the Baptist faith, Carter attended Holy Family Catholic Church for more than four decades.
He is survived by his wife, Susan, son Jerry Berry of Wasilla, Alaska; sisters Sandy Hughey of Fayetteville, Ark., Rena Betts of Gainesville, Ga., and brothers Charles (Joyce) Berry of Aubrey, Texas, and Dennis (Sally B) Berry of Cordova, Tenn. He has one grandson, Logan Berry. Survivors include beloved family friends Abe and Lindsay Johnson of Fort Knox, Ky., and their three children -- Carter and Susan’s “God-Grands”, Maddux, Maddie Grace and Carter.
He was preceded in death by both of his parents and sister, Nancy Jean Myers.
The family ask that donations in Carter’s memory be made to your favorite charity or the Carter and Susan Berry scholarship endowments at Columbus State University or the University of Arkansas.
