Carter
WAYCROSS — Mardelle Cawley Carter passed away on Monday, April 13, 2026, after an extended stay at Baptist Village.
Mrs. Carter was born June 30, 1931, in Waynesboro, Ga. She was the daughter of Forest Phillip Cawley, Sr. and Ruth Inez Odom Cawley. She lived in Waynesboro eight years before moving to Sparta, Ga., and graduated from Sparta High School in 1948. After high school, she attended Georgia State College for Women in Milledgeville, where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics in 1952.
Mrs. Carter taught Home Economics at Nicholls High School in Coffee County for two years. The remainder of her career in education was in Ware County, having taught second, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades before becoming a Librarian/Media Specialist at Ware County Junior High for 26 years.
Mrs. Carter attended Bickley United Methodist Church. She loved her church, and sang in the choir and taught Sunday School classes for many years. She held many positions in both the church and the United Methodist Women’s Organization.
Mrs. Carter loved to cook and work in her yard. She was known for her love of and talent for cooking. She was generous, sharing her cooking specialties with many. No event was complete without one of her special Chocolate Delights and a Strawberry or Lemon Pie. If someone needed feeding, she was the first to respond.
Mrs. Carter was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 60 years, Felton Carter, her sister Emma Ruth Cawley Maffett, her brother Forest Phillip Cawley Jr., sister- in-law Mary Ann Cawley, brother-in-law Jack Maffett, niece, Allyson Maffett, and nephew, Forest Phillip Cawley III.
She is survived by her children, Douglas Carter (Beth), Mike Carter (Debi), and Carol Carter Godfrey; grandchildren, Jessica C. Sellars (Johnathan), Jason Carter (Danielle), Robert Carter (Lauren), Miranda Jatendranoth (Stephan), and Ethan Crosby (Samantha); great grandchildren, Reed, June, and Nathan Sellars, Griffin Barlow, Tristan Crosby, Alea Carter, Liam Hembree, Harbor Carter, Leon and Josiah Jatendranoth; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life for Mrs. Carter will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 18 at Bickley Church. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to the service time at the church.
Family and friends are invited to share a meal and memories after the service at the church. A graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. at Oakland Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requested that donations be sent to Hospice Satilla in memory of Mrs. Carter.
Music Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
