Biography
Beatrice Dobbs Carter of Knoxville, Tennessee, passed away at 1:35 pm on Friday, June 5, 2009 at St Mary’s Hospital North, Knoxville, Tennessee four day shy of her 74th birthday born on June 9th, 1935. Her beloved husband was with her at the time of her last breath. She was a member of Wallace Memorial Baptist Church Knoxville TN.
Beatrice (known by family and friends as Bea) was a native of Claiborne County TN, reared in the Forge Ridge Community, graduated from Forge Ridge High School in 1953 and was one of the school’s star basketball players. She was a member of Forge Ridge Baptist church for many years before her marriage to Charles T. Carter on March 26,1953 . Bea and Charles first home was at Millington TN as Charles was assigned to Aviation Electronics school at Millington Naval Air Station in Memphis, Tennessee where they began his 26 year career in the U S Navy.
She lived with Charles in many places during his naval career: California, Hawaii, etc. They were very active in church in all those locales. Beatrice Dobbs Carter was first and foremost a disciple of Jesus Christ. Her favorite scripture passage was the thirteenth chapter of First Corinthians. Bea did not simply memorize these characteristics of love; she practiced these tenets with each person she encountered.
She showed us how important relationships are and how to constantly abide by and reflect the love of Jesus Christ. Beatrice Carter epitomized what the Apostle Paul described in this chapter and, as a result, leaves this earth with countless authentic relationships imbedded with love. Good News, she is home with Jesus and he is massaging her tired body.
She was preceded in death by her parents, James Thomas and Maudie Dobbs, five brothers, Paul, Cecil, Frank, Roy and Earl Dobbs and four sisters, Gladys Luckadoo, Beulah Williams, Ruth Dobbs and Verdia Cunningham. Bea was the next to youngest of the twelve children. She is survived by two sisters, Mary Dobbs Ayers of Castalia, Ohio and Edna Faye Dobbs Owens (Elvin) of Jacksonville, Florida. It was in this house of so many in the Forge Ridge community where she developed the capacity to love.
She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 56 years, Charles Taylor Carter. The two of them practiced self-sacrificing love each and every day. As a result of this love there were five children, 12 grand children and 10 great grand children.
The family received friends on Monday, June 8 from 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM at Coffey Funeral Home, Tazewell, Tennessee. Funeral service at 7:45 PM with Rev Stephen Koeneman officiating.
. Graveside services were held at Dobbs Cemetery Forge Ridge on Tuesday, June 9 at 12 Noon with Rev Stephen Koeneman and Rev Kent Williams officiating
Pallbearers were: Christopher Carter
Steven Jordan
Todd Jordan
Allan Jeffries
Owen Carter
Mykel Paul Carter
You are invited to share your thoughts and memories of Beatrice at www.mem.com
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Wallace Memorial Baptist Church Knoxville TN. Building Fund.
Coffey Funeral Home, New Tazewell, Tennessee in charge or arrangements.