Mike Carter, Sr.

Mike was a 1966 graduate of City High School and a member of Brainerd Baptist Church.

As a young man, he was a Gold Gloves champion boxer, competing in Olympic preliminary trials and facing future World Champion Sugar Ray Leonard, a match witnessed by some who insist Mike won. In 1980, he won the Chattanooga King of the Mountain Tough Man competition, whooping up pretty much every opponent put in front of him.

At forty, he became an educator, a discipline he approached with the same passion and zeal he brought to boxing. He earned multiple graduate degrees and became a teacher, a friend and mentor to his many students. He even donated a kidney to one of his students, and they remained close friends until her passing.

In later years, he traveled the world, visiting four continents, and developing bonds with people from many countries and cultures. He remained active in the boxing community and in his church. He never lost his desire for learning and new experiences and exemplified a life of personal growth and redemption.

He was preceded in death by his parents, O.J. and Eula Carter, his brother Billy O. Carter, his friend and “kidney buddy” Telisha Crowe, and his beloved wife, Fern, who never failed to remind him that he might have the graduate degrees, but she would always be the smarter of the two.

He was smart enough not to argue, at least within earshot.

He is survived by his sister, Nancy Snodgrass, children, Michael, Jamie, Erin, Gretchen (Jacob) Shiveley, and Michael Cox, grandchildren Salem, Georgia Mei, Addison, and Issa Carter, Carter, Reese, and Molly Shiveley, Michael Justin, Jr., Justin Robert, and Gracie Mae Cox, great-granddaughter Zhuri Carter, niece Kim Sanders, nephews Will and Gary Snodgrass, great-niece Rachel Snodgrass, great-nephews Heath Snodgrass and Hank and Jack Sanders, nephew Bo (Tami) Chamberlain and family, close family member Barbie Vaughn Thomas, long-time friend Charlie Greene and dozens of other friends and family members who will miss him.

Visitation will be Thursday February 26th from 4 pm-8 pm. Funeral will be Friday at 12:00 pm with the family receiving visitors starting at 11:00am. Reverend Barry Wilkes will officiate. Burial to follow at Lakewood Memorial Gardens.

Jacob Shiveley, Carter Shiveley, Georgia Mei Carter, Heath Snodgrass, Jack Sanders, and Hank Sanders will serve as pall bearers.

The family would like to thank Kristine at Cornerstone Caregiving for caring for Mike in his last days with dignity and compassion.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Y-CAP community.

Please share your thoughts and memories of Mike online at www.ChattanoogaEastChapel.com

Chattanooga Funeral Home East Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements.