Terry Douglas Carter, 84, of Waycross, passed away late Friday night, February 6, 2026, at his residence.
Born in Surrency December 21, 1941, he was the sixth of nine children born to the late James Tillman and Eloise “Bill” Collins Carter. He graduated high school in 1960 from the “Surrency University” in Surrency. He fell in love with Diane McBride, to whom he married June 23, 1963, producing six children, and remained devoted to for 46 years, until her death in 2008. In 2010, he
was lucky in life and met Eve Purcell, to whom he would marry on November 7, 2015, and expanded his blended family by two more children.
He was a member of the Masonic Lodge of Temple Terrace, FL for 56 years. His passions included golf, hunting and fishing, playing cards, with his favorite being Horse and spending time with his family, but above all, his relationship with Jesus Christ. He was a member of Emmanuel Baptist Church for 56 years, serving as a teacher for the Youth and Adult Sunday school classes, as well as on the Bereavement Committee and with the Saints of Joy.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife and mother of his children, Diane McBride Carter; two older brothers and their wives, James and Janie Carter and Carl and Betty Carter; a brother-in-law, Sam Cowan; a sister-in-law, Diane Carter and a son-in-law, Steve Haun.
Survivors include his wife, Eve Purcell of Waycross; children and their spouses, Cathy Carter, Sheri Haun, Marcia Craven, Doug (Traci) Carter, Levi Carter, Logan (Hannah) Carter, Pam (Toby) Crews and Brad Purcell; grandchildren, Brittany (Jamie) Inman, Reyn Haun, Kaiti (Jonathan) Miller, Ralea (Liam) Watkins, Bryson Carter, Wyatt Carter, Libby Carter, Ellen Carter, Ann Carter, Berckman Carter, Brady (Emily) Carter, Jayden Crews, Coleman (Meghan) Purcell, Kirkland Purcell and an expected Bentley Carter; great-grandchildren, Elliot Inman and Brantley Paul Carter; siblings, Wilda Beecher, Juema Cowan, Linda Pauloo, Errol Carter, Don (Darlene) Carter, and Lamar (Nellie) Carter; and numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives. He considered himself to be a very blessed man.
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Monday, Feb. 9, at the funeral home, 659 East Main Street, Blackshear.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, February 10, from the Emmanuel
Baptist Church, 217 W Carter Avenue, Blackshear. The Rev. Mike Stone will officiate.
The family requests that members of the Surrency High School Class of 1960 serve as honorary
pallbearers. They are asked to please meet at the church by 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.
A private interment will be in the Zion Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery near Surrency.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Emmanuel Baptist Church Building
Fund.
Sympathy may be expressed by signing the online guestbook at www.pearsondial.com .
Pearson-Dial Funeral Home of Blackshear is honored to serve the Carter/Purcell families during this time.
