Harvey Wallace Carter, Jr.'s Obituary
Harvey W. Carter, Jr. joined the Lord on April 6, 2026, after a long illness with COPD and Congestive Heart Disease.
Born on June 27th, 1943, to Helen Collins Carter and Dr. Harvey Wallace Carter. Harvey's father had been deployed to North Africa on the first of June 1943 to serve in the Medical Corp. Harvey was 2 years old before his father was able to see him in December 1945 after the war ended. After Dr. Carter returned home Harvey's family moved to Southeast Missouri where his father practiced medicine. During this time Harvey was blessed with a baby sister Helen Audrey Carter whom he adored and gave her the nickname "Puddin". In 1951 Harvey's family returned to Memphis.
Harvey attended Memphis State Training School (Campus School) through the 9th grade. He finished his high school education at Central High School graduating in 1961. He attended Memphis State University from 1961 to 1965. During college Harvey worked part time for Holiday Inn and spent his Summers working in Wyoming at Yellowstone National Park.
In 1965 Kemmons Wilson, founder of Holiday Inn, convinced Harvey to come to work for Holiday Inn at the new Holiday Inn Rivermont. Harvey was employed at that location from mid - 1965 to mid - 1969 serving in numerous positions from front desk manager, food and beverage director and assistant comptroller. At the age of 26 he was promoted to assistant Manager to a facility that had over 350 rooms, a ballroom that sat 2000 and employed over 350 Memphians.
During this time, he had the pleasure of meeting Reverend Billy Graham. Dr. Martin Luther King, Mrs. Coretta Scott King, Jim Stewart of Stax Records and Prince Rainier of Monaco. Harvey left the Rivermont in the late 1969 and was assigned to the Holiday Inns in Chattanooga, Athens and Nashville, Tennessee.
Harvey left Holiday Inn in early 1970 and was hired as the club manager of Farmington Country Club. Farmington Country Club opened on July 4, 1970, with 50 members, when approximate population of Germantown was 3,000. Over the years the Farmington Country Club membership grew to 500 regular members and 150 part-time members with a waiting list up to three years for a membership.
Harvey served as manager of Farmington Country Club for 25 years. In 1995 the club was sold to another investment group, and the name was changed to Germantown Country Club. Harvey served as general manager of Germantown Country Club for 16 years. Upon his retirement in 2011 he served for 41 years as the only manager of both clubs.
Harvey started volunteering in 1970 at the Memphis Classic now FedEx St Jude Golf Tournament. He was also a member of the Club Managers Association of America for 32 years serving as State President. He also served on two National Committees that hosted the Club Managers Conventions in Nashville in 1988 and 1992.
Harvey was an avid duck hunter and croppie fisherman. He was very active in the 70's with Ducks Unlimited helping found the Germantown and Collierville chapters. In later years he joined the Committee of Delta Waterfowl.
He was a Mason and a member of Bellevue Baptist Church since 1951. Harvey was also a veteran having served in the Tennessee National Guard during the Vietnam War from 1966 to 1972. He was awarded honorable discharge with the rank of Sergeant when leaving the service in 1972.
Harvey was preceded in death by his parents Dr. and Mrs. Harvey Wallace Carter. A son Richard Carlton Carter and his sister Helen Audrey Carter Breeding "Puddin".
Harvey is survived by his son Russell Collins Carter and his wife Marilyn Cathcart Carter, daughter in law Amy Sullivan Carter, a grandson Davis William Carter and granddaughters Elaine Elizabeth Carter "Lainey" and Lillian Collins Carter "Lily". He is also survived by a niece Virgina Lazenby and nephew Darrell Breeding.
Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 14 until service begins at 10:00 a.m. at Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery and interment immediately following.
In lieu of flowers please send a donation to the Mid South Food Bank.
What’s your fondest memory of Harvey?
What’s a lesson you learned from Harvey?
Share a story where Harvey's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Harvey you’ll never forget.
How did Harvey make you smile?
