Helon S. Carter, 90, of Bartlett went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Thursday, April 27, 2018. She and her twin sister were born June 17, 1927 to the late, Payne and Willard Shackelford in Ripley, MS. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Wayne Carter; one granddaughter, Hannah Fleming, and her two brothers, Horace and Marlin Shackelford. Helon grew up in RIpley, MS, graduating from Buena Vista High School in 1945. She married Wayne Carter on March 9, 1946. Helon was an excellent seamstress even as a young child. After she was married she made clothing and draperies for herself, her children and grandchildren (and more). She was an active member of Frayser Presbyterian Church and later First Presbyterian Church for over 60 years . For over 20 years she loved studying God's Word through Community Bible Study. Helon loved her family unconditionally and was always interested in doing what made others happy. She leaves behind a legacy of hard work, love and kindness. She is survived by her best friend (for the last 90 years), her twin sister Helen Barkley of Ripley, MS. She is also survived by her children; Curtis Carter (Theresa) of Memphis and Ginger Fleming (Paul) of Little Rock, AR. Her surviving grandchildren are Regina Carter, Grant Fleming, Davis Fleming and Ashley Fleming. Also surviving her are her sisters-in-law, Willard Shackelford and Elizabeth Valentine (Jimmy); and many adoring nieces and nephews. We would like to thank the staff of Baptist Hospital and Baptist Reynolds Hospice House for their diligent and loving care over the last four months as her health declined. But most of all, we would like to thank Dr. Hugh Overstreet for his faithfulness to his profession and the excellent care of our mother during the last 27 years. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until service time at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, 3700 N. Germantown Rd., Bartlett, TN with the interment to follow at Tippah Memorial Gardens-Ripley, MS. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to First Presbyterian Church (Soup Kitchen), 166 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN 38103.
