WHITE STONE—Mary Randolph Christian “Pat” Carter of White Stone, 96, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on January 4, 2018.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, James Northam “Jimmie” Carter.
She is survived by their nine children, Mary Randolph Carter Berg and husband Howard, Liza Carter Norton and husband John of New York, Cary Carter Turpin, Nell Carter Thompson and husband Hunter of Richmond, James Northam Carter Jr. and Deborah Kelly, Emily Everett Carter and husband David Donofrio of White Stone, Bernard Pitzer Carter and wife Joni of Irvington, Christian Carter Lightbourn and husband Christopher of Nassau, Bahamas, and Cleiland Donnan Carter of Cobbs Creek. She also is survived by 18 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren; and by her sister-in-law, Emily Everett Carter of Richmond.
Born and raised in Richmond, a devout Catholic, she was the daughter of John Barnum and Anne Kerans Christian. Pat, as she was affectionately nicknamed, attended Thomas Jefferson High School and eventually married her childhood sweetheart, Jimmie Carter. After six children were born, Pat started her own real estate company—Pat Carter Real Estate, which eventually became Jim & Pat Carter Real Estate after her husband joined her.
In 1957, they moved with their growing family to the Northern Neck of Virginia, and their office became the welcoming fixture on the main corner of White Stone. They turned their passion for early houses into a way of life when they bought Muskettoe Pointe Farm, a 17th-century house facing the Rappahannock River, and slowly restored it into a landmark home.
Pat loved her home, but she really loved her herb gardens and among her achievements was the president of the Garden Club of the Northern Neck and member of the Herb Society of America.
In the last few years, Pat lived a few miles away from her beloved home at Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury. Pat found another home at RWC with lots of old and new friends who cared for her dearly.
A graveside service took place at noon Monday, January 8, at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to White Stone Volunteer Fire Department, Bon Secours Rappahannock General Foundations, or the charity of your choosing.