Betty Joyce Carter

Betty Joyce Carter, 88 of Vonore, TN, passed away peacefully on August 24, 2026. Betty will be deeply missed by family and friends who will remember her love for her family, her strong faith in Jesus, lasting friendships, and beautiful smile.

Betty was born at home on November 30, 1937 in a two-room farm house in Farmington Community outside of Corinth, Mississippi. She was the third of nine children born to Albert and Alberta Weston. With family as their nearest neighbors, Betty played, worked in the fields, and celebrated life’s simple joys with her siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. In her memoirs she reflected on the simplicity and challenges of farm life with no electricity, a wood stove, pulling water from their well and “the outhouse”. Betty also fondly reminisced about attending church, family gospel sing-a-longs, popping popcorn over the fireplace, listening to the Grand Ole Opry on her grandparents’ radio, gathering for family fish fries at Pickwick Lake, and staying cool in the summer with hand-cranked homemade vanilla ice cream and watermelon. These experiences laid the foundation for her strong family values, work ethic and faith in God.

Betty excelled academically and was selected as her class Salutatorian. Loving science and inspired to help others, she persuaded the local hospital to provide her tuition to attend nursing school if she agreed to come back and work there. Betty graduated from Baptist Memorial School of Nursing in Memphis, TN in 1958 and spent most of her 40-year career as a Registered Nurse (RN) at Baptist Memorial Hospital. She continued her professional education throughout her career. Betty became one of the first Enterostomal Therapists in Memphis after completing training at MD Anderson Hospital in Houston, TX in 1975. She became a Board Certified RNET in 1984 and obtained her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN) in 1988 from Union University in Jackson, TN. Betty had a special connection with many of her patients beyond care-giving, and treasured life-long friendships with her nursing school classmates and co-workers.

Betty met Gene at church on Easter Sunday in 1957 while attending nursing school in Memphis. Love was not at first sight. She turned him down the first time when he asked her if he could give her a ride home to her dorm. However, when they got to the door to leave the rain was pouring down and Betty needed to walk to the bus stop to get back to school. Gene had an umbrella and a car. When he asked her again, Betty quickly changed her mind and said yes! Gene paid back her tuition to the Corinth hospital and they were married on September 20, 1958. This year they were celebrating their 68th Anniversary!

Betty was a dedicated wife and mother who made work-life balance look seamless. During their marriage they lived in ten homes across three states including Tennessee, Indiana, and Texas. But, they spent over 45 years in Memphis/Germantown area working and raising their children. Betty and Gene were long-time members of First Assembly of God Memphis and maintained life-long friendships with their church family.

Betty had many passions outside of her work. Gardening and Cooking brought her great joy! She planted beautiful flowers, vegetable gardens, and fruit trees at each home. She also loved to collect and try new recipes. Family and friends received gifts of her Parker House rolls, Christmas Stollens, Birthday Cakes and Pies. However, her grandchildren will remember the bags of holiday cookies (chocolate chip, sugar, and many others).

After Betty retired from nursing, she and Gene traveled the world together, served their church, and celebrated time with their children and grandchildren. Betty became a Certified Master Gardner and enjoyed frequent outings with her friends, “The Lunch Bunch”. Betty and Gene also researched her ancestors, published a book on the Weston Family, and donated copies of this book along with his Carter Family Genealogy books to the Library of Congress in Washington DC. In 2019 they relocated from Memphis to Rarity Bay in East Tennessee. They purchased a home only one-mile away from their daughter and son-in-law and joined Sweetwater First Assembly of God Church in Sweetwater, TN. Betty loved staying in touch with her family and friends and sharing family photos, events, recipes and faith-based messages via Facebook.

Betty is survived by her beloved husband, Melvin “Gene” Carter; children: Danna Caller (Gary) of Vonore, TN and Michael “Tim” Carter (Shirley) of Fulton, MD; grandchildren: Madeline “Maddie” and Tristan Carter; siblings: Shelby Royal, Glenda Parker, Margaret Fiveash, James Weston (Donna) and Elaine Fiveash (Kerry). She was preceded in death by her parents Albert and Alberta Weston and three other siblings: Charles Weston (Ruth), Lois Cowell (Joseph), and Doris Land (Dennis).

Visitation will be held on Monday, August 31, at 1 PM at Memphis Funeral Home, 5599 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN with a Memorial Service to follow at 2 PM. Interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN. A Celebration of Life in Vonore, TN will be announced at a future date