Mr. Joseph Talmadge "J.T." Carter, of South Effingham, also known by his five adoring grandsons as PaPa, entered eternal rest on Sunday, July 25, 2021, after an extended illness.

J.T. Carter was born on a farm between Scott and Wrightsville in Johnson County on October 1, 1937, to Talmadge LeRoy Carter and Annie Bell Smith Carter. When he was five years old, his family moved to Cobbtown in Tattnall County where he grew up working with his dad in the tobacco fields.  He graduated from Collins High School in 1956 and moved to Savannah shortly thereafter where he met his future wife of 51 years and the mother of his children on a blind date.  He married Zena Cannon Carter on January 12, 1957, and together they raised their two children in Port Wentworth.

J.T. was very involved in his children's lives and taught them a love of family, life, and sports.  He was a football, softball and baseball coach and served for many years as Chairman of the Port Wentworth Recreation Department.  He later moved to South Effingham County and retired after 33 years of service from Union Camp Corporation where he was a papermaker and served as President of the Papermakers Union before becoming a facilitator on the start-up of the No. 8 paper machine. He was a long-time member of Port Wentworth United Methodist Church where he held many leadership positions.

On November 30, 2013, he married Julie McPipkin Miller of Port Wentworth, an astonishing achievement in the eyes of his son who was amazed that a man with such big ears and simple features could marry the prettiest lady in Port Wentworth. Their years together were a blessing as they enjoyed their combined families that included five children, 11 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. J. T. Carter was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Zena Cannon Carter; two sisters, Louella Whitaker and Geraldine Bennett; and two brothers, Byron Carter and Charles Carter.

He is survived by his wife, Julie McPipkin Miller Carter; son, Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (Amy) of Pooler; daughter, Cecilia "Cissie" Hutcheson (Craig) of Waycross; step-daughters, Pam Yarber (Wain) of Savannah, Carol D'Cruz of Savannah and Holly (Chris) Weiss; grandsons, Joel (Megan) Carter of Charlottesville, VA, Barrett (Halley) Carter of New Orleans, LA, Travis (Kathleen) Carter of Atlanta, Kyle (Brooke) Hutcheson of Cumming, Canon (Courtney) Hutcheson of Eastman, Alex Yarber of Manhatten, NY, Reed Yarber of Brooklyn, NY, Anna D'Cruz of Columbia, MO, Matthew Weiss of Guyton, Becca Bragg (Jason) of Rincon, Madeline Weiss of Pooler; and nine great grandchildren.

Visitation: 6-8 PM on Tuesday at the funeral home.

Funeral: 10 AM on Wednesday at Port Wentworth United Methodist Church with burial to follow at Rincon Cemetery.

Remembrances may be given to Port Wentworth United Methodist Church, 201 Turnberry St., Port Wentworth, GA, 31407.