John A. Carter

John Albert Carter

March 3, 1947 – October 27, 2026

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith…”           2 Timothy 4:7

Mr. John Albert “Johnny” Carter, 79, of Eastover passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. With his final harvest done, he went on to be with the Lord.

Johnny was born on March 3, 1947, in Cumberland County, North Carolina, to the late John A. Carter and Lola Margaret Scoggins Carter. He was a 1965 graduate of Central High School and served in the North Carolina National Guard from 1966 to 1972. Johnny worked for several years with Burlington Industries while farming part time in the Eastover, Godwin and Wade communities. In 1979, he left the trucking industry and began to farm full time, establishing Folly Hog Farm along with his brothers-in-law Johnny and Curtis Smith. Over the course of his farming career, he developed a diversified and extensive row crop operation and raised beef cattle. In 1999, Johnny became a contract pullet grower for Tyson Foods. For many years, he was an active member of the Cumberland County Livestock Association, serving on the Board of Directors and on several specialized committees for the Cumberland County Cooperative Extension. He was a farm equipment and field crop exhibitor at the Cumberland County Fair and served as a guest presenter for a variety of youth agriculture education programs across the county. In recognition of his lifelong contribution to agriculture, Johnny was inducted into the Cumberland County Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2022.

Still, Johnny’s greatest agriculture accomplishment is the proud legacy that he has passed down to his son Adam, and his grandson, Mason. Together and in his honor, they will carry on the good work that Johnny began.

From 1947 until 1970, Johnny was an active member of Bluff Presbyterian Church in Wade. Upon his marriage to Suellen Smith on June 21, 1970, Johnny joined Lebanon Baptist Church in Eastover. He was a vital member of the Lebanon congregation, serving as a Deacon, the Moderator of the Church Council, a Royal Ambassadors (RA) leader, and a member of the Building and Grounds Committee, as well as the Cemetery Committee. Johnny was a kind and generous man, and his absence will be deeply felt throughout the church and community that he loved.

Johnny was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of nearly 48 years Suellen Smith Carter; and his siblings Janie Vann, Peggy Vann and James Carter. He is survived by his daughter, Susan Carter Canady and husband Michael Canady; his son, John Adam Carter and wife Kristen Walker Carter; grandchildren John Mason Canady, Caroline Elizabeth Canady, Mary Claire Canady, Olivia May Carter, John Tildon Carter, and Mary Ellen Carter; and a large extended family who will all miss him dearly.

A service honoring his life will be held on Friday, October 30, 2026, at 4:00 p.m. at Lebanon Baptist Church in Eastover with Pastor Tommy Knight officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 2:00 – 3:45 p.m. at the church prior to the service.

The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to the precious caregivers who took such wonderful care of Johnny during the end of his life: Ms. Sharon, Ms. Ivy Ford, and Mrs. Linda Thompson. To the entire staff at Gentiva Hospice – Jessica, Katie, Penny, Ragen, and Taylor – we will never be able to thank you enough for the care, comfort and peace you provided for our entire family.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Lebanon Baptist Church Capital Improvement Fund.

Online condolences may be made at sullivanshighland.com.

Services are entrusted to Sullivan’s Highland Funeral Service & Crematory, Inc., of Fayetteville, North Carolina.