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Lonnie Ray Carter, 77 and affectionately known as “Connie Larter” by his wife, passed away on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at Moses Cone Memorial Hospital with his family by his side.
Funeral service has been postponed and will be held on Monday, February 9, 2026 at 2:00 pm at Brightwood Christian Church with Pastor Jeffrey Barber and John Tannehill officiating. Burial will follow at Gilmore Memorial Park.
Mr. Carter was preceded in death by his parents, William and Mary Carter; brothers, Bob, Cecil, George, and Bill Carter; sister, Martha Clapp; and grandson, Matthew Carter.
He loved his wife Darlene (Granny) beyond words. They married when she was 19 years old and spent their 58 years devoted to one another and his family. His testimony of faith and miracles was powerful and Lonnie never missed an opportunity to tell others about Jesus.
Lonnie loved to spend his time hunting and fishing, watching nature, and feeding his birds around his house. He loved working on cars driving his 57 Chevrolet and riding his horses. Faith and family were the most important things in his life, he never met a stranger, and he always looked for ways to lend a helping hand. He spent time with his Lord in prayer and Bible study daily, and looked for ways and opportunities to spread the good news of the salvation of Jesus Christ every day. He loved his family, children and his grandchildren. If you knew him you knew they were the apple of his eye his pride and joy, along with his beautiful hair.
His family encourages you to read the prayer for family protection in Psalm 91 and you will find why God’s house and the Word of God meant so much to Lonnie, and they challenge you to make the Lord the most important thing in your life.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Darlene Carter; daughter, Laura Clapp and her husband Dennis; daughter, Renee Carter, along with William Cauley; son, Shane Carter, and fiancé, Jessica Lewis; grandchildren, Robbie and wife Becca, Danielle (Charlie), Dottie, Ashton, Maranda (Paul), Madison, Hunter, Hannah, Hope, and “Ari”; great-grandchildren, Peyton, Dean, Presley, Bentlee, and Paxton; sisters Shirley Brown, Virginia (Ginny) Jeffries and Linda Henson, special friends, Kenneth and Wanda Baxter, and Charles “DooHoo” Donahue; as well as numerous family members and friends whom he loved.
The family will receive friends on Monday at the church from 12:45-1:45 pm prior to the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Kenneth Copeland Ministries at https://giving.kcm.org/
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Lonnie Ray Carter, please visit our floral store.