Jerry Campbell Carpenter

Tucker, GA

          Jerry Campbell Carpenter was born December 23, 1943, in Rockingham, NC, a son of the late Marshall and Evelyn Frances Campbell Carpenter. He was predeceased by his brothers, Keith, L.A., John Marshall, and Richard Carpenter; and sister, Linda Francis. Jerry was the eighth of ten children. He is survived by his four sisters, Sara Parnell of New Orleans, LA; Karan Reavis of Winston-Salem, NC; Jean Massengill of Clayton, NC; and Catherine Sears of Southern Pines, NC. His immediate family included 23 nieces and nephews; numerous great-nieces and nephews; and numerous great-great-nieces and nephews.

          He wrote many letters as a child to his older brothers while they served our country in the U.S. Navy. He raised baby chicks for a 4H project and won a blue ribbon. He also planted loblolly pines which still grow at the old home place in Rockingham. Jerry attended Cordova Elementary School in Cordova, NC. He was the salutatorian in his graduating eighth grade class. In high school Jerry was on the debate team and won honors his senior year in the state debating conference in Chapel Hill, NC. After high school, Jerry worked briefly for the North Carolina National Bank in Charlotte which later became Bank of America before joining the U.S. Naval Reserves. On active duty he participated in the recommissioning ceremony for the USS WRIGHT (CC-2) in Bremerton, WA. In transit to his next ship, he boarded the USS CACAPON (AO-52) in Subic Bay, Philippines and was high lined in the South China Sea to the USS LYMAN K. SWENSON (DD-729). The Swenson made port of calls to numerous countries including Saigon, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Yokosuka, Brisbane, and Sydney, Australia. He engaged in a Crossing of the Line Ceremony when the ship crossed the equator. He was awarded a “worthy shellback” certificate thereby losing his status as a “pollywog”, one who has not crossed latitude 00 degrees. After the Navy he attended Western Carolina University and was awarded a bachelor of arts in business administration.

          Jerry was an avid family man who brought his Carpenter family together for their first reunion in Boone, NC. He compiled a list of all of the descendants of his maternal great-grandparents and presented a copy to his extended family. His driveway was always open to his family.

          His work career was in finance both in banking and commercial credit. He worked for the Northwestern Bank in Boone, NC, which later was merged into the Wells Fargo banking system. He was a cashier at Guaranty Bank in Gretna, LA. He worked in the oilfield industries in Harvey, LA for a subsidiary of Aetna. In Atlanta he worked for The Coca-Cola Company. There he coined the title of the orientation program FIRST DAY FORWARD and named the COCA-COLA CARES promotional coupons.

          Jerry’s hobbies were photography, gardening, and blue bird protection. In Gretna, his entry of the Chalmette Ferry won a blue ribbon. In New Orleans he was a pioneer in restoring an 1880’s shotgun cottage. His last garden in Tucker, GA was full of Japanese maples, conifers, dogwoods, azaleas, lilies, and the floral abundance of the seasons. He built and placed on poles and maintained blue bird nesting boxes. He raised a starling and taught her to talk. He maintained a wildlife sanctuary around his home and constantly kept a pan of fresh water for birds and other animals. He taught Adult Literacy in Project Read.

          Jerry was a loving member of Unity Temple when he lived in New Orleans. He retained his devotion in later years by listening to numerous messages while a resident of Atlanta. His favorite song was, “Let There Be Peace on Earth” and favorite Scriptures were Luke 17:21 and Ephesians 5:20. In retirement, Jerry served as a foster parent for DeKalb County, GA.

          A Celebration of Life Graveside service will be held at 12:00 Noon, Saturday, January 27, 2024 at Sandy Plains Christian Fellowship Cemetery. The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the Sandy Plains Christian Fellowship Hall.

          Jerry loved his pets, his faithful collie Telford “Puppy”. He cherished his family, friends, and special caregiving friend, Penny Nabers. He also loved his charities, especially The United Methodist Children’s Home, 550 S. Columbia Drive, Decatur, GA 30030.

Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home (www.mrcfuneralhome.com) of Chesterfield, SC is serving the Carpenter family.