Edith Carter

Year Inducted: 2015

Edith Marie Ferguson Carter was born on August 15, 1930, in Caldwell County to T.W. Ferguson and Edith Kyles Ferguson. She attended college at Southern Methodist in Dallas, Texas, The Art Students League in New York City, RPI (now Virginia Commonwealth University) in Richmond, Virginia, and Appalachian State University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in art education. Ms. Carter taught art in the Wilkes County and the Caldwell County School systems. She retired from West Caldwell High School in Lenoir. In the 1960's, she was director of art for the Lenoir City Schools. Ms. Carter was Teacher of the Year in the Caldwell County Schools on three separate occasions. She and her husband were involved with the operation of running a farm for 54 years in the Ferguson community.

Ms. Carter worked for many years as a graphic designer. In the 1950's, she illustrated the story of Tom Dooley, a story which fascinated her for the rest of her life. She has illustrated stories from North Carolina history and made them into discs for public school use. She has also illustrated several books. Ms. Carter’s love of the arts translated into her involvement in many community services. She assisted in organizing the Wilkes Art Gallery and the Cultural Arts Council in both Wilkes and Caldwell counties. Ms. Carter directed Art in the Park in Blowing Rock, North Carolina for 28 years. She served on the Wilkes Telephone Membership Corporation and the North Carolina State Grange Insurance Company Boards. She was active with the Wilkes Chamber of Commerce and the Wilkes Heritage Museum.

Ms. Carter received numerous acclamations and honors for her work in various organizations in Wilkes and Caldwell. These honors include: North Carolina Grange Woman of the Year, Wilkes Extension Home Makers Woman of the Year, North Wilkesboro Rotary Club Woman of the Year, and won a North Carolina Historian Award for books written and illustrated and for creating Whippoorwill Village. Whippoorwill Academy and Village created an educational experience for thousands of school children. Ms. Carter was also North Carolina Daughters of American Revolution Distinguished Woman of the Year, Grand Marshall for the Wilkes Christmas Parade and Grand Marshall for Wilkes Heritage Day. In 2014, Edith Marie Ferguson Carter and her husband, G. Hill Carter, were inducted into the Wilkes County Agricultural Hall of Fame during a ceremony at the Edwin McGee Conservation Center.

Ms. Carter was an active and lifelong member of the Beaver Creek Advent Christian Church in Ferguson. She served over the years in many offices and positions. These included youth leader, Sunday school teacher, clerk, treasurer, Vacation Bible School Director and teacher, served with the missionary society, sang in choir and was the church pianist.