Katherine Widman Carter

ROCKY MOUNT – Katherine Helene Widman Carter, age 88, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, at home surrounded by her family after a long, brave battle with cancer. Born in Philadelphia County, PA on December 15, 1934, she was the daughter of the late Major Frederick Jacob Widman, USMC and Katherine Emma Heffleger Widman, who lived to be 104 years of age. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Needham Battle Carter; her brother, Frederick Jacob Widman, Jr.; and her sister, Ruth Elizabeth Widman Marr. Katherine lived a full life of service including the NC Republican Party, NC Federation of Women’s Clubs, Jr. Women’s Club, Girl and Boy Scouts leader, Sub Deb leader, and emcee for the annual fashion show, First United Methodist Church adult Sunday school teacher for 18 years, and Precept Ministries leader. She also enjoyed sewing and handiwork her entire life, and with Nancy Gladstone opened and operated The Needlework’s Shop in Rocky Mount for several years. Katherine was a member of the Eastern NC Embroidery Guild and enjoyed participating with the local Quilting Bee. After graduating from UNC Nursing School’s second class in 1956, Katherine began her first year of work as a nurse in Rocky Mount at the H. Lee Large Health Department. She was tasked with setting up clinics throughout Nash County dispensing “polio vaccine” sugar cubes to the public as well as going into the schools to provide the vaccine to elementary school children. Katherine soon left work to raise her family and serve in her church and community. She was re-certified as a nurse at UNC in 1989 and returned to nursing full-time at Nash General Hospital for three years. Katherine then went to work for the NC State Department of Corrections; first at the Fountain Correctional Center for Women in Rocky Mount, and then as a traveling HIV/AIDS Educator serving 16 prisons in eastern North Carolina. For several years after retiring, Katherine spent six months each year in Australia with her youngest daughter and her family. She was a loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Katherine is survived by her children: son, Mark Needham Carter and wife, Tamara, of Nashville; daughter, Katherine Widman Carter Cole and husband, Jeffrey, of Treasure Island, FL; daughter, Haven Elizabeth Carter Roughton and husband, Lucien, of Durham; and daughter, Allison McSween Carter Gundry of Victoria Point, Queensland, Australia; six grandchildren, Evan McSween Carter, Carter Leigh Cole Fondon and husband, Justin, Regan Alexis Cole and husband, Matthew Graham, Caitlin Elizabeth Cole, Rylie Brienne Cole Stogryn and husband, Jonathan, and Katherine “Kate” Sheridan Gundry; three great-grandchildren, Chaseleigh Cody Katherine Fondon, Magnolia Dawn Fondon, and Dale Battle Graham; several nieces and nephews, step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren. Katherine was looking forward to the arrival of another great-grandson in September. A Graveside Service of Burial of Cremains to celebrate Katherine’s life will be held on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, at 11:00 AM at Pineview Cemetery in Rocky Mount, with Keith Griffin and Rhonda and Eddie Woltman officiating. The family will be available to receive friends and relatives immediately following the graveside service. The family expresses their sincere thanks to her doctors and staff at Boice-Willis Health Center, the Danny Talbot Cancer Center at Nash UNC Health Care, Nash UNC Health Care Hospice & Palliative Care, and especially to Jackie Howell and Tampthee Jones for the care and compassion shown to their mother. The family would also like to express their loving appreciation and eternal gratitude to Ellen Minges for her devotion, love, care, and companionship to their beloved mother. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Katherine’s memory to Grace Covenant Church, 1204 Cheshire Lane, Rocky Mount, NC, 27803; Danny Talbot Cancer Center at UNC Nash Health Care, 2460 Curtis Ellis Drive, Rocky Mount, NC 27804; or Nash UNC Health Care Hospice & Palliative Care, 2460 Curtis Ellis Drive, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com.