Minnie Edwards Carter was born on May 10, 1933 on a stormy night in the Raliegh Bartlett area of Shelby County. She at times joked that the turbulent weather was the cause of her occasional tempestuous temper. Her parents were Ollie Washington Edwards, Sr. and Bertie Mae Findley Fisher Edwards. Minnie was one of nine children, including John Curtis Fisher, Harold LaGrande Fisher, William David Fisher (Francis), Mary Fisher Dowdie (John), Bertie Mae Edwards, Jeanette Edwards Antwine (Billy), Ollie Washington Edwards , Jr. (Jean Sigler), and Virgil Mercer Edwards , Sr. (Martha). She was predeceased by all of her siblings. Her survivors include her daughter Linda Crosby Grills, her granddaughter Lindsay Black (Brad), her great grandsons Gavin and Bryant Black, and her sister in law, Jean Edwards Sigler, as well as four nieces and four nephews.
Minnie was a member of the 1951 graduating class of Nicolas Blackwell High School in Bartlett. After graduation, she began working at Sears Crosstown in the mail order department as a typist, where she was employed for ten years.
After leaving Sears, she worked in the lab at American Finishing Company. While working there, her boss introduced her to the man who would become the love of her life, Donald R. Carter. They married in 1963, built a home together in Germantown in 1965, and remained happily married until his death in 1987.
Minnie thoroughly enjoyed being outdoors and caring for her yard and home. One of her favorite activities was cutting her grass on her John Deere tractor, and she continued caring for her yard until three weeks prior to her death. She has said her favorite sounds were birds chirping, thunderstorms, and the sound of her great grandchildren laughing.
Her family was her greatest joy. She was a devoted wife to Don, a loving mother to Linda, and a doting and involved Biggie to her granddaughter, Lindsay. She was so excited to welcome Lindsay's husband, Brad, into the family and danced at their wedding in 2013. She adored her great grandsons Gavin and Bryant and loved nothing more than sitting with them in her lap in her favorite big leather chair. In more recent years, she looked forward to weekly lunches at various restaurants with her nephew Steve, his wife Sally, and other family members.
Minnie will be greatly missed. She had an impact on those closest to her, as at times she was larger than life. She was strong, independent, charming, and intelligent. She valued hard work, honesty, and integrity most of all. In Minnie's own words, the most important things in life were not things. She said "having family and friends to spend time with, grandchildren to hug and watch grow, living comfortably in my home, being able to work in my yard, living in a country like the United States and having freedoms. These are the things that are the meaning of life to me". We can all hope to have a long life filled with appreciation for these simple but most important aspects of life.
We will miss you always. Until we meet again.
Family and friends will gather at Memphis Funeral Home, 5599 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38119 on Wednesday, September 18 from 11:00 a.m. until procession leaves for a 1:00 p.m. graveside service in Memphis Memory Gardens Cemetery.
Her family suggest any memorials in Minnie's honor be sent to either St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the Arbor Foundation.
Online condolences, floral tributes and directions may be found through www.memphisfuneralpoplar.com
