George Washington Carter

George W. Carter, well-known theater director of Jamaica, passed away suddenly on January 23, 2016 while on a visit to relatives and friends in North Carolina. Earlier this month, he and his wife, Cecelia T. Carter (nee Robey) of Tampa, Florida, celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary. He was born in St. Andrew, Jamaica on April 5, 1916.

He is most known for his work in the development of theater and the credit union movement in Jamaica and the Caribbean. For this, he was awarded the Jamaica Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander in 2011. He credited his formative years at St. George’s College, Kingston, Jamaica, with the inspiration to be involved in the theatre arts as well as the credit union movement. The latter he saw as a way to help people lift themselves out of poverty, a passion which he had throughout his life.

He established a business in Kingston, Jamaica, Carter’s Electroplating, which he ran for many years until his love for the theatre drew him entirely into that field. He became technical director of the Little Theatre Movement, focusing much of his time on lighting design. He similarly was involved with the Jamaica National Dance Theatre. He worked on numerous stage productions and musicals, most notably those of the National Pantomime. Some of the more popular productions were Anancy, Busha Bluebeard and Dikkance for Fippance. He travelled with other pioneers of Jamaican theater to introduce its unique style of dance and stage performance to world audiences.

In his later years he lectured at the Edna Manley College of the Visual & Performing Arts, the Extra-Mural Department of the Philip Sherlock Center for the Creative Arts of the University of the West Indies, and the School of Drama of the Jamaica Cultural Training Center in which he played a role in its founding. Additionally, he led an active family and religious life. Over the years, he served in multiple capacities in many Catholic parishes including the Cathedral and Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Kingston, Jamaica. He was a member of the Catholic Knights of Columbus organization.

He will be missed by: His wife, Cecelia T. Carter (nee Robey), Tampa, FL; Children Denis G. Carter (Stella) of Garner, NC, Joan Carter McLaughlin (Mark) of Tampa, FL, George A. Carter (Annia), Kingston, Jamaica; Grandchildren Monique Carter Buchanan (Jim), Sean C. Carter (Caroline), Ryan McLaughlin, Matthew McLaughlin, Jeremiah Jones (JoAnn), Cody Jones (Kim), Peter Carter, Andrew Carter, Stephen Carter; Great-grand children Nathaniel Buchanan, Cole Carter, Keely Carter, JosieAnn Jones, JessieMae Jones, Jillian Jones, JudyElizabeth Jones, JennaLee Jones, Katherine Grace Jones and Daniel Cole Jones. He was preceded in death by his son Peter I. Carter (Shirley Carter Harris).

Funeral services are scheduled for 1:00 PM, Monday, February 1, 2016 at St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church, 5801 Falls of Neuse, Raleigh, NC 27609.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to: St. Raphael the Archangel Catholic Church.