About Us
The Carter Funeral Home
“Maintaining the Tradition of Excellence”
The Carter Funeral Home was established in 1932 by my father G. Nelson Carter in a small farm house in Gloucester County Virginia on
land that belonged to James A. Carter, my grandfather. The business was moved to Gloucester Courthouse into a new colonial brick
building that contained both business and living quarters. It was there that I was born in 1944. My first memories are of reaching up as
high as I could to touch the soft silken lining of a casket which was higher than my head. I never wanted to do anything else than to be a
Funeral Director. I sat in the corner of the morgue as a child and watched my father prepare deceased persons to make them ready for
services, and we often talked about the importance of an appropriate funeral service to the families and the community that we served.
I completed High School in Gloucester and after attending Temple University, was graduated in 1967, second in a class of 125 students
from the American Academy - McAllister Institute of Funeral Service in New York City where I had also taught Chemistry. I received the
AAMI Faculty Award for Proficiency in Mortuary Arts and Science, their highest honor.
I learned the business from the ground up; digging graves, making concrete burial vaults, designing and engraving memorial
monuments, removing bodies from homes and hospitals as well as from crime and accident scenes. Most rewarding of all I learned to
create funeral celebrations that left fond memory pictures for the surviving family and friends. In 1975 I opened an office in Williamsburg,
and designed and built the modern funeral chapel that we now occupy at 251 Richneck Road, Newport News in 1996.
Our firm has a reputation for excellent restorative art. We use the most modern and creative application of chemistry and cosmetics such
that families often come from the viewing thanking us for eliminating the appearance of pain and suffering that had been their last
memory of their loved one, and restoring them to the appearance of peaceful and beautiful repose. We have a huge selection of caskets
and cremation urns. Our florists are creative and talented. Every detail of funeral service is attended to professionally. We are not the least
expensive funeral firm, but we are excellent at what we do, and our charges are reasonable given the high standards that our clients set,
and that we meet. As in many aspects of life, you get what you pay for.
I have served on the Virginia Board of Funeral Directors, and the National Conference of Funeral Service Examiners. I was a principal
author of the Federal Trade Commission Funeral Service Rule, the national law that governs all aspects and standards of the profession.
I have served as the President of the Virginia Morticians Association, and was “Mortician of the Year,” in 1976.
My public service includes, the civil rights leader in Gloucester County school integration, Deputy Sheriff of Gloucester County, Member of
the Board of Visitors of Christopher Newport University, Chairman of the Newport News Planning Commission, Founding Member of the
Newport News Civil Air Patrol, and most satisfying, Pastor of the Shepherdsville Baptist Church, where I have served for ten years. I am a
Past Master Mason, Past High Priest of the Royal Arch, and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine.
My favorite Book is the King James Bible, which I study constantly as a rule and guide for my faith and practice through life.
My wife, Elizabeth, has been my companion for 44 years. She was graduated Summa Cum Laude from the John Tyler College in Funeral
Service and is a licenced Funeral Service professional as well. She manages our pre-need funeral plans, sells life and health insurance,
and provides business and personal bonds. She is an excellent grief counselor.
Frederick R. Carter, President
Carter Funeral Home, Inc.
Elizabeth L. Carter
Pre-need and Insurance Manager
“Maintaining the Tradition of Excellence”
The Carter Funeral Home was established in 1932 by my father G. Nelson Carter in a small farm house in Gloucester County Virginia on
land that belonged to James A. Carter, my grandfather. The business was moved to Gloucester Courthouse into a new colonial brick
building that contained both business and living quarters. It was there that I was born in 1944. My first memories are of reaching up as
high as I could to touch the soft silken lining of a casket which was higher than my head. I never wanted to do anything else than to be a
Funeral Director. I sat in the corner of the morgue as a child and watched my father prepare deceased persons to make them ready for
services, and we often talked about the importance of an appropriate funeral service to the families and the community that we served.
I completed High School in Gloucester and after attending Temple University, was graduated in 1967, second in a class of 125 students
from the American Academy - McAllister Institute of Funeral Service in New York City where I had also taught Chemistry. I received the
AAMI Faculty Award for Proficiency in Mortuary Arts and Science, their highest honor.
I learned the business from the ground up; digging graves, making concrete burial vaults, designing and engraving memorial
monuments, removing bodies from homes and hospitals as well as from crime and accident scenes. Most rewarding of all I learned to
create funeral celebrations that left fond memory pictures for the surviving family and friends. In 1975 I opened an office in Williamsburg,
and designed and built the modern funeral chapel that we now occupy at 251 Richneck Road, Newport News in 1996.
Our firm has a reputation for excellent restorative art. We use the most modern and creative application of chemistry and cosmetics such
that families often come from the viewing thanking us for eliminating the appearance of pain and suffering that had been their last
memory of their loved one, and restoring them to the appearance of peaceful and beautiful repose. We have a huge selection of caskets
and cremation urns. Our florists are creative and talented. Every detail of funeral service is attended to professionally. We are not the least
expensive funeral firm, but we are excellent at what we do, and our charges are reasonable given the high standards that our clients set,
and that we meet. As in many aspects of life, you get what you pay for.
I have served on the Virginia Board of Funeral Directors, and the National Conference of Funeral Service Examiners. I was a principal
author of the Federal Trade Commission Funeral Service Rule, the national law that governs all aspects and standards of the profession.
I have served as the President of the Virginia Morticians Association, and was “Mortician of the Year,” in 1976.
My public service includes, the civil rights leader in Gloucester County school integration, Deputy Sheriff of Gloucester County, Member of
the Board of Visitors of Christopher Newport University, Chairman of the Newport News Planning Commission, Founding Member of the
Newport News Civil Air Patrol, and most satisfying, Pastor of the Shepherdsville Baptist Church, where I have served for ten years. I am a
Past Master Mason, Past High Priest of the Royal Arch, and a Noble of the Mystic Shrine.
My favorite Book is the King James Bible, which I study constantly as a rule and guide for my faith and practice through life.
My wife, Elizabeth, has been my companion for 44 years. She was graduated Summa Cum Laude from the John Tyler College in Funeral
Service and is a licenced Funeral Service professional as well. She manages our pre-need funeral plans, sells life and health insurance,
and provides business and personal bonds. She is an excellent grief counselor.
Frederick R. Carter, President
Carter Funeral Home, Inc.
Elizabeth L. Carter
Pre-need and Insurance Manager
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| We have the experience and skills to maximize your insurance and other financial benefits from often overlooked sources |
| AAMI Faculty Award for proficiency in the Mortuary Arts and Sciences |
| OUR FAMILY SERVING YOUR FAMILY DIANNE, BETTY, FRED, AND JAMES |