Walton Thomas Carter, Jr.

Walton Thomas Carter, Jr., affectionately known as “Sir”, age 94, passed away at home Tuesday, May 4, 2021 following a brief illness.

Born in Columbus, Georgia, Walt was the son of the late Walton Thomas Carter, Sr., and the late Louise McGowen Carter. Formerly of Vienna, Georgia, he had been a resident of Valdosta for the past 67 years.

Walt served in the Army Air Forces in Europe at the end of World War II. He was a principal of Valdosta Insurance Services and an active member of Christ Episcopal Church where he served as lay reader. Walt was President of Robinson Improvement Company, President of the Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of the Red Carpet Committee, and President of the Kiwanis Club of Valdosta. Walt was a high school and college basketball official and the Assigning Secretary of the Southern Basketball Officials Association for over 50 years. He is a lifetime member of the Georgia Athletic Officials Association and a member of their Hall of Fame. He received the lifetime achievement award from the International Association of Approved Basketball Officials. Walt was a founding member of the Park Avenue United Methodist Church, a 1950 graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology, a member of Tech’s Alpha Sigma Chapter of the Kappa Alpha Order, an avid tennis player and hosted the Walt Carter Invitation Tennis Tournament on Labor Day Weekend for many years.

Walt is survived by his wife of 67 years, Jan Gray Singleton Carter of Atlanta. He is also survived by children Len and Melissa Carter of Valdosta, Trav and Judy Carter of Atlanta, Robin and Richard Coleman of Valdosta, and Joe and Paige Carter of Heber City, Utah. He is predeceased by a son, Thomas Bernard Carter. Walt is survived by grandchildren Dori Carter of Louisville, Kentucky; Aldine and Kyle Warner of Naylor; Ben Carter of Chicago; Elizabeth Carter of Atlanta; Rick and Katherine Coleman of Macon; and Carter and Catherine Coleman of Valdosta. Great grandchildren include Bowen and Maddox Warner and Walt Coleman.

The family will have a private communion service, and a public committal service will be on Friday, May 7, 2021 at 4:30pm at the Burial Garden of Christ Episcopal Church, 1521 North Patterson Street, Valdosta. In lieu of flowers, donations to Christ Episcopal Church would be appreciated. Condolences to the family may be conveyed online at www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane Funeral Home.