Carolyn Louise (McDowell) McCarter

Ms. Carolyn Louise (McDowell) McCarter, age 79, of Burgaw, NC, transitioned to eternal rest on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, NC.

The Obituary

Carolyn Louise McCarter, the beloved mother to six children, twenty grandchildren, and twelve great grandchildren of Buncombe County, North Carolina, passed away in Wilmington, North Carolina on December 27, 2025, leaving an immense void a family could never fill.

Born in Buncombe County, North Carolina in 1946 to John and Clara McDowell, Carolyn was the youngest of three children. As a child she displayed an immeasurable love for family and community.  The child of an active-duty service member, Carolyn had an opportunity to travel the world as a result of her father transitioning from one Air Force Base to another. Later the family would settle in Sacramento, CA where she attended Grant Union High School. Upon graduating in 1964, Carolyn shared her love for people by going to work as a healthcare provider. Carolyn married the love of her life, Mr. Billie McCarter on October 26, 1968.

Carolyn was a devoted mother to Kimberly, Sandra, Jennifer, John, Leah, and Amber, her greatest love. She believed they were the best of who she was, and that was evident in the love and unfaltering support she shared with her children. Carolyn took special joy in placing the needs of her family above that of her own and had fond memories of living in Europe with her parents and siblings, the birth of her children, and watching them grow and start families of their own.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her father John R. McDowell Sr., Mother Clara E. McDowell, Brother James (Craig) McDowell, Husband Billie McCarter, and grandson Tralane Thomas. She is survived by Brother John R. McDowell Jr., daughter Kimberly McCarter and her children, Auriana, Darion, and Dylon; daughter Sandra McCarter and her children Shelby, Sophia, and Josephine; daughter Jennifer Gay and her children, Geshay, Janay, Samia, Michaela, Tapraia, Anylah, and Antonio; son John McCarter; daughter Leah Espitia, and her children Amy, Mia, and Eva; and daughter Amber Simmonds, and her children Kylie, Amira, and Caleb along with twelve great grandchildren, who will never forget the love, life, laughter, joy, and compassion she brought to their lives.

Her favorite expressions where, “My maiden name was McDowell, and my married name is McCarter. I have been a Mack my whole life” and “It’s in the pheromones.”  

Carolyn was a woman of faith and believed that love was the greatest gift from God to us and it was our charge to share that same love with each other. Who she was and how she loved is best described by 1 Corinthians 4-8

4. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous. It does not brag, does not get puffed up, 5. does not behave indecently, does not look for its own interests, does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury.  6. It does not rejoice over unrighteousness but rejoices with the truth.  7. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8. Love never fails.

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Professional services entrusted to Knotts Funeral Home-Sanford, NC