Grace Ellen Salmon Carter, of Wallace, North Carolina, went to be with the Lord peacefully surrounded by her family at her home, on November 14, 2015. Grace was born in Wallace, North Carolina on June 8, 1932 and was the youngest daughter of the late Ivey J. and Sadie Ragan Salmon of Wallace. Grace graduated from Wallace High School, and briefly attended Rex Nursing School. She married the 'love of her life', the late Oscar Thomas (Tommy) Carter on March 7, 1951. She was well-known in the Wallace community, having a long-standing management career for Cato clothing store. During this time she was a very active business woman, having served as a president and member of the Wallace Chamber of Commerce, an active member of ABWA (American Business Women's Association), and other civic organizations. She was a lifelong member of the Rockfish Presbyterian Church in Wallace, where she was very active in every aspect of the church including choir member, youth group leader, Sunday School teacher, Presbyterian Women's groups and elder. In recent years she faithfully attended and supported Kingdom Builders Ministries of Wallace, North Carolina, a church founded by her grandson, Pastor Brad Carter. Grace was a steadfast presence to her large extended family and was truly the matriarch of the family, always remembering the special occasions for her many nieces and nephews, as well as her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She would often call for the sole reason to tell one how "special you are". Grace was a permanent fixture at any sporting event, dance recital, or awards ceremony involving her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Whether wearing black and orange (Bulldogs) or red and black (New Bern Bears), she was an energetic fan, often 'coaching' from the bleachers. She will be greatly missed by so many. Her positive attitude, words of encouragement and most importantly, her prayer legacy will live on through the people she has impacted. Grace leaves behind her son, Archie Carter and wife Susan of Wallace, NC; her daughters Teresa Jones and husband Alton of La Plata, MD and Oscara Stevick and husband David of New Bern, NC, her grandchildren Brad Carter and wife Kayla; Suzannah Creech and husband Jimmy; Amanda Jones; Cindy Schultz and husband Bob; Marianna Dunn and husband Robbie; Carter Roberts; Caroline Stevick and Sam Stevick and her great grandchildren Brevin and Anna Townsend Carter, Elijah Crayton, Abby Jones, Caitlyn and Alex Lee, and Isaac, Evangeline and Sophia Schultz. Grace was blessed with many nieces and nephews as well as many great nieces and nephews and many dear friends. In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by her siblings Robert Salmon, Floyd Salmon, Lois Salmon Griffin, Faye Salmon Batts, Gladys Salmon Nowell, Earl (Dodger) Salmon and Vernon (Brownie) Salmon.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, November 21 at Kingdom Builders Ministries Church at 1:00 PM. A time of fellowship and visitation with the family will immediately follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorial contributions be made to Kingdom Builders Ministries, 1504 Norwood Street, Wallace, NC 28466; Rockfish Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Inc., PO Box 247, Wallace, NC 28466; or Lower Cape Fear Hospice, 1414 Physicians Drive, Wilmington, NC 28401.

To sign the guest book, go to www.padgettfuneralhome.com.

A service of Padgett Funeral and Cremation Services, Wallace.