Hope Jones Carter, age 75, of Live Oak, passed away on Thursday, June 30, 2022, at Haven Hospice Suwannee Valley Care Center in Lake City, following a lengthy illness. Carter was born in Greenville, S.C., to the late James C. and Geneva Hawkins Jones. She moved to Perry, Fla., where she lived for a time, but most of her adult life was spent in Live Oak, Fla.
Carter graduated from Florida State University with her Bachelor’s Degree in Education. She worked for the Suwannee County School Board, teaching Language Arts and English for over 40 years at Suwannee Middle School, where she is fondly remembered as “Ms. Hughes.” Carter loved her students and often went above and beyond to make sure every student was on board with all activities and lessons. In addition to teaching, she loved selling Mary Kay and was very successful in keeping all of her clients well-stocked with their favorite products. She used Mary Kay herself and even at the age of 75, her caretakers often remarked about what a youthful complexion she had maintained.
Her hobbies included cross stitching, potting flowers and repotting her many green plants in her greenhouse. While out in the yard, she loved watching the butterflies as they enjoyed all of her beautiful flowers. She also looked forward to her dinners out and time spent with her fellow teachers following her retirement. Carter was a single mother and gave her all to make sure that her son, Al, had everything he ever needed. After he suffered a near-fatal gunshot wound when he was 19, Carter spent weeks at his hospital bedside, never leaving and always praying that God would heal him and lead him to a Godly helpmate. Carter’s prayer was answered, and she lived to see him marry his wife, Lindsey, and father her two beautiful grandchildren. She spent hours playing outside with them, teaching them both to ride their bikes around Pineview Circle, looked forward every year to walking them around the neighborhood at Halloween and spent much time in the kitchen teaching them how to bake her wonderful pound cake, baking cookies and how to prepare her famous fried chicken and cornbread.
Most importantly, she spent countless hours reading Bible stories and talking to them about Jesus and the importance of knowing the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Her lessons took, and both children joyfully worship the Lord and are leaders in their church and school because of her example. Carter was a longtime member at Melody Church in Live Oak and genuinely loved to praise and worship. The only thing she was not able to do was to teach the children to swim because that was the one thing she never learned how to do herself. Carter was blessed late in life to meet and marry Glenn Carter. The two enjoyed three beautiful years together, spending time with the grandchildren, attending bluegrass festivals and traveling before his death in 2011.
Carter is survived by her only son, Alfred L. Hughes, III and his wife Lindsey Williams Hughes, of Jasper; two brothers, Robert “Bob” Jones and his wife Linda and Grady Jones and his wife Carol; and her two grandchildren, Alden Lane Hughes and Sarah Addison Hughes. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, July 5, at Corinth Baptist Church in Jasper, with interment in the church cemetery. Pastor Gary Abbott and Pastor Frank Davis officiated the services. Memorial contributions may be made to Haven Hospice at 6037 W U.S. Hwy 90, Lake City, Fla., 32055. Harry T. Reid Funeral Home, in Jasper, was in charge of arrangements.
