Lady Sara Lou Harris Carter

Year Inducted: 2018

Lady Sara Lou Harris Carter was born in Wilkesboro, North Carolina on July 4, 1923, to proud parents James and Esther Harris. She was the eldest sister of Rhina, Esther and James W. Harris, Jr. Sara Lou graduated from Lincoln Heights High School where she was the top of her class and received a full scholarship to Bennett College at the age of 15, earning Dean’s List honors every year. After graduating from Bennett, she taught at Lincoln Heights Elementary School for a year. According to a 1974 article in Ebony magazine, her classmates said, “We prophesy that you, Sara Lou Harris, will become a successful high fashion model and the best hat mannequin in the industry.”

After teaching in Wilkesboro, Sara Lou moved to New York City to pursue a master’s degree in education at Columbia University but was offered a modeling opportunity. Sara Lou became a leading model, radio and television personality as well as a lifelong humanitarian. In the late 1940’s and early 1950’s, she broke the color barrier several times, appearing as the first African American model in the New York buyers fashion show. She was featured as a “glamour girl” on Lucky Strike cigarette posters. She was one of the original twelve “Branford Models” of the Branford Modeling Agency, the first licensed African American modeling agency in the United States. Featured in Black Women in America, Sara Lou appeared on the cover of national black publications, including Jet, Ebony, Tan, and Hue, at least 30 times.

Sara Lou also excelled in singing and acting. The Sy Oliver Orchestra featured her as a vocalist. Touring Europe in 1946 with the Noble Sissle United Service Organization troupe, she was part of a women’s quartet and had a solo part in “Shuffle Along.” She also played the love interest in the Astor movie “Rhythm in a Riff” starring singer Billy Eckstine and featuring music by Dizzie Gillespie.

In 1958, Sara Lou traveled to Guyana to be part of a fashion extravaganza. It was there she met her future husband, barrister-at-law John Carter. John eventually became Guyana’s first Ambassador to the United States after independence and represented Guyana before the United Nations and in numerous countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, China, and Jamaica. Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain knighted him in 1966, entitling Sara to be called Lady Sara Carter. According to Ebony Magazine in July 1967, one veteran State Department diplomat exclaimed, “She does more with a smile to win friends than many embassies with huge sums to entertain.” Another said, “She’s to the diplomatic set what Jackie Robinson was to baseball.”

Also, Lady Sara was known for her international charitable efforts on behalf of the mentally and physically challenged. After John retired and they returned to Washington in 1983, Lady Sara continued her charitable work. She was an active member of the Chevy Chase United Methodist Church and involved in numerous other organizations, many with an international focus. 

Lady Carter is survived by three children, Robin Marston, John Carter, Jr. and Brian Carter and several grandchildren, cousins and close friends.