Elder Kelly Kenyatta Pharr Carter

Mother’s Tribute

Kelly,

From the time you were born and I held you in my arms, I knew you were special. You had an incredible smile and infectious personality. I could always depend on you to bring the sunshine into everyone’s life when you entered the room.

I am so proud of what you were able to accomplish in the 51 years on earth that you had with me and your siblings. You’ve had a great deal of success in your life and endured a lot of heartache, but your faith always helped you through what trials and tribulations that faced you. God’s grace and mercy sustained you.

I will miss our meals together, our movie nights and just spending time with you talking about any and everything on the porch. I will cherish the time we had together my baby, but I know you are in a better place.

You were my baby girl, and I love you so much. God truly has an angel with him right now with you.

KKC,

What are we going to do without you? You were the mediator among mom and dad’s five children. You always brought out the best in us. We loved teasing you because you were the baby and felt like Mommie let you get away with everything, we couldn’t. Our relationships with you were different, but all very special. Dawn and Dee had breakfast with you almost every Saturday morning. Chip and John talked to you every other day at least. But when we all would get together to play games, we all knew who was playing to win and that was you. Mom would say she didn’t know who was the most competitive you or Dee. We will talk about you, laugh and cry and cherish our time with you DAWG!

Oh, to hear your voice and laugh again. We know we will, when we see you again.

We love you baby sister!

Love, Deidre (Dee Dee), Austin (Chip), Juandali (Dawn), John, Rosalyn (Roz) and Robert (Robby)

Auntie Kelly,

The memories you leave us with will forever be cherished. You labored in prayer for each of us, calling out our names individually to the Lord, dispatching angels to protect us, and covering us with the love of Jesus.

Colossians Chapter 3 verse 17 states “Whatever you do in word and deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Every life lesson that you taught us was rooted in the word. You would always encourage us to be bold and stand up for ourselves, and to walk in our God-given authority. You would always instruct us that whatever we do, we do it for the glorification of Jesus Christ.

We are not crying tears of sadness, but tears of joy, as we know that you are in heaven with our Lord and Savior.

We love you and you will forever live on in our hearts.

Stephanie, Patrick II, Brian, Austin Jr., Stephen, Ashley, Arlycia, Amanda, Jamila, Alizabeth, John Jr., Joshua, and Al’Trell

Life’s Reflections

Kelly

Kenyatta Carter was born on December 24, 1971, in Chicago, Illinois to Elizabeth Anne Carter Nelson and the late Austin Howard Carter, Jr. She was the youngest of five children. Kelly accepted Christ at an early age. When she was a young girl, she would get ready for church and walk to Lilydale Baptist Church in Chicago and sing in the Sunshine Choir. Kelly accepted the call to minister the Word of the Lord while attending college. Kelly was ordained an Elder at Miracle Temple Ministries, Inc. She moved her membership to Dwelling Place International Church. She never met a stranger and took every opportunity to share the love of Jesus with them. Kelly believed in the power of prayer and shared that message through word and demonstration. She was a gifted teacher of the Word of God. Kelly’s legacy was using her gifts and talents to plant many seeds that would bear fruit in different seasons of her life. Whether it was teaching in the school system helping students, working with and ministering to coworkers, or laboring in the Body of Christ, Kelly Carter was a woman that God could use, and ripple the effects of her presence on this earth will be felt for generations to come. Kelly was a graduate of John Marshall Harlan High School class of 1990. Her classmates elected her senior class president and she served on the Chicago Board of Education as a board of supervisors her senior year.

Kelly attended Alabama A & M University in Huntsville, Alabama, majoring in Elementary/Early Childhood Education. In 1995, she graduated cum laude with a B.S. Degree. She graduated from De Paul University with a M. Ed in Administration and Supervision in 2003, and an ED.S. in Curriculum Instruction and Professional Development from Walden University in 2012.

Kelly taught in the Chicago School System for close to ten years and moved to Memphis, TN to be close to her immediate family. She joined Memphis City Schools and worked at Cherokee Elementary, Evans Elementary, Treadwell Middle, and Treadwell Elementary Schools. She joined Gestalt Community Schools at Power Center Academy Middle School and at Humes Preparatory Middle School. After leaving Gestalt, Kelly worked for Southern Avenue Charter Schools and at City University School. She was a teacher, instructional facilitator, assistant principal, principal and dean during those years. In 2021, Kelly joined Memphis and Shelby County Schools as an instructional support advisor and recently accepted a position as a highly specialized advisor in the Professional Learning and Support Department.

Kelly pledged Gamma Mu Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. at Alabama A & M University. She was a member of the NAACP Memphis Branch, Sigma Tau Epsilon Professional Fraternity and the National Women’s Political Caucus. She was proceeded in death by her father, Austin H. Carter, Jr. She leaves behind a devoted mother, Elizabeth Carter Nelson; sisters Deidre Carter Malone (Patrick), Juandali Dawn Carter and bonus sister Rosalind Ammons. Brothers are Austin Howard Carter III (Alicia), John Wesley Foster Carter (Christian), and bonus brother Robert Garrett Jr. Nieces Stephanie Carter, Ashley Carter, Arlycia Thomas (Nickolus), Amanda Carter, Jamila Webb, and Alizabeth Carter. Her nephews are Patrick Malone II, Brian Malone (Brittany), Austin Carter Jr., Stephen Carter, John Jr., Joshua, and Al’Trell Johnson. Kelly remained friends with her ex-husband Andre Pharr. She leaves a host of cousins and friends whose lives she touched dearly.

Kelly transitioned into the arms of her loving Savior on Friday, September 29, 2023. She will be missed by so many who loved her, we find comfort that she is in heaven.

Order of Celebration

Saturday, October 7, 2023 12:00 Noon

Dwelling Place International Church

114 U.S. 71 Collierville, Tennessee 38017

Apostle Ken Toney, Officiating

Musical Prelude

Processional..............................................................................................The Family of Elder Kelly Carter

Prayer of Comfort..................................................................................................Elder Kimari Shotwell

Scripture Readings:

The Old Testament: Isiah 40: 1-8......................................................................Pastor Brenda Seals

The New Testament: 1st Corinthians 15............................................................Pastor Brenda Seals

Musical Selection................................................................................................Deborah Manning Thomas

Prayer & Words of Comfort..................................................................................Pastor Janiree Hightower

Reflections of Love

(Respectfully, Three Minutes Please) Tafina Adgers - Childhood Friend

Shundra Morris - Friend

LaTangela Mills Green - Co-Worker

Elder Juandali Dawn Carter - Family

Musical Selection................................................................................................Deborah Manning Thomas

Resolutions....................................................................................................Minister Lydia Kwateng Eppic

Acknowlegements..........................................................................................................Pastor Carol Turner Atlanta, GA

Silent Reading of the Obituary

Musical Selection.........................................................................................................Elder Quintina Rhea

Message of Hope.............................................................................................................Apostle Ken Toney

Recessional

Remains will not be viewed after Eulogy

The family of Elder Kelly Kenyatta Pharr Carter would like to extend our sincere appreciation for the many kind and thoughtful expressions during our time of bereavement. At this time in our lives, it is people like you, our faithful and loyal friends, who make our pain and our void so much easier to bear. We can’t thank you enough for your prayers, cards, visits, meals and words of encouragement and other acts of kindness during this time. A special thank you to Apostle Toney and the Dwelling Place International Church for the love you have always shown our family. You enrich our lives each and every day and for that, we are eternally grateful. Your kindness and expressions of love have supported us during this part of life’s journey more than you will ever know.

We ask that you continue to pray for us.

The Carter Family