Mr. J. Robert Carter, Jr., age 86, of the Mt. Leon Community of Horry County went home to be with the Lord Sunday, June 20, 2010 at the Medstar Division of the Kingston Nursing Center following an illness. Mr. Carter was born January 31, 1924 in Longs, a son of the late Rev. J. Robert Carter, Sr. and the late Lula Hardwick Carter. He was a farmer, a politician, a businessman, and a member of Loris Masonic Lodge No. 205 AFM. Mr. Carter was a faithful member of the Living Water Baptist Church in Longs, SC where he attended regularly and sang in the church choir. He was a former member of the Mt. Leon Baptist where he had served as a Deacon and taught Sunday School. Mr. Carter has devoted much of his life to public service by being elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives for six years, appointed to the South Carolina Highway Commission for a four year term and as the Director for the first ambulance service in Horry County. As a member of the Highway Commission, he was able to cause the first South Carolina Welcome Center to be located in Little River, get the overhead bridge built where Highways 9 and 17 cross the Intracoastal Waterway, secure funding for the Highway 17 bypass in Myrtle Beach, resurface the road from Conway to Georgetown, and pave dozens of previously dirt roads all over Horry and Georgetown counties. As a field representative for Congressman John L. McMillan, he was able to help many people cut through governmental red tape and get help for them when they were unable to help themselves. Mr. Carter was predeceased by his brothers: Manley Carter and the Rev. Burroughs Carter and his sisters: Bobbie Watson, Evelyn Todd, Clarice Carter, Stella Watts, and Effie Boyd. Mr. Carter is survived by his wife of 68 years: Willie Hardee Carter of Longs, his three children: Ron Carter and his wife Kaye of Atlanta, Judy C. Carter and her husband Tim of Longs, and Deborah Huggins and her friend Dr. Jim Price of Conway, one sister: Lula Mae Carter Hughes Davis of Conway, six grandchildren: Gina Ballew and her husband Rodney, Janet Faircloth and her husband Delane, Jamie Hendricks and her husband Inman, Timmy Carter, Richie Carter and his wife Maureen and John Huggins, seven great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He will be sorely missed by his family and friends and always remembered by those whose lives he touched. The family received friends Monday evening, June 21, 2010 from 6-8 PM at Ward Funeral Home in Loris. A service to celebrate the life of Mr. Carter will be held Tuesday morning, June 22, 2010 at 11:00 AM from the Living Water Baptist Church with the Rev. Lebron Crisp and the Rev. John Goudelock officiating. Burial, with Masonic Rites, will follow in the Mt. Leon Cemetery. The Carter family wishes to extend a special and sincere thanks for their compassionate and great care to the staff of Conway Medical Center, to the staff of Med-Star and Kingston Nursing Center for their help during the rehabilitation process, and to the staff of Comfort Keepers for their compassionate care and daily attention. Memorials may be sent to the Living Water Baptist Church, 1569 Highway 9 East, Longs, SC 29568 or to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, 215 East Bay Street Charleston, SC 29401. Ward Funeral Home of Loris, 756-9273, is serving the family. Published in The Sun News on June 22, 2010