John Paul Carter

It is not to whom you are born that determines who you are, it is who receives you.

-Shelby Hearon

JOHN PAUL CARTER, 85, crossed the Great River, as he liked to say, and was received by his heavenly father on Thursday, June 27, 2024, following a long illness. 

SERVICE – Celebration of Life at 10:30 a.m., on Friday, August 2, 2024, at Central Christian Church, 1602 South Main Street, Weatherford, Texas 76086.

Born in Memphis, Tennessee on July 19, 1938, he was received through the blessing of adoption by his loving parents, Rush and Bess Carter. He wasn’t born in Texas, but got here as quick as he could! In his early years, the family resided in Fort Worth and Port Arthur before settling in Dallas, where John Paul graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School. He went on to earn degrees from Baylor University (1960), Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (1964) and New College at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland (1967). 

Ordained in 1962, John Paul began his life of service when called as pastor of First Baptist Churches in the Fannin County community of Selfs and then Eden, Texas, where he made lifelong friends. When TCU’s Brite Divinity School began its program for Pastoral Counseling, John Paul felt his calling and moved with his young family to Fort Worth, earning a Doctor of Ministry degree in 1973. He then was received by Fort Worth’s Broadway Baptist Church as its Minister of Pastoral Care and later was a founding member of the Center for Ecumenical Counseling in Arlington. In his retirement years, he continued to practice as a marriage and family therapist, both privately and for CorpHealth.

In the early 1990’s, John Paul reconnected with his childhood friend, Carole Reeves. They married on April 1, 1995, and moved to Weatherford to begin a new life together. They were received by the community and made many new friends, joining Central Christian Church, where John Paul served as an Elder and preached for many years on “Fifth Sundays”. He also wrote a regular column for the Weatherford Democrat called Notes from the Journey, where he shared his experiences, wisdom and homespun tales. 

John Paul had a unique ability to connect with others and the many who received him into their lives were blessed beyond measure by his compassion, encouraging words, humor and unconditional love. To quote a family friend, “John Paul gathered friends like a hummingbird gathers nectar … he was there, he touched their lives and he flew away with the sweetest part of their stories, lodged in his memory to share with others on the journey”. 

John Paul is survived by: his wife of 29 years and friend for 74, Carole Carter; daughter, Kristen (Rob) Frye; son, Rush (Vanessa) Carter; Carole’s sons, Jeff Johnston and Greg (Maggie) Johnston; grandchildren, Maddy, Lina and JoJo Carter, Kate and Lucy Johnston, and Andrew Fu; and numerous in-laws, nieces, and nephews. 

The family wishes to thank the following for their loving care of John Paul in his final months: West Fork Assisted Living, Beyond Faith Hospice, and loyal caregivers, Lara Montoya, Natalie Conner and Juanita Perez. 

MEMORIALS – In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a memorial donation might consider: ACH CHILD & FAMILY SERVICES, Attn: Adoption Services, 3712 Wichita Street, Fort Worth, Texas 76119; MANNA STOREHOUSE, 129 East Spring Street, Weatherford, Texas 76086; or a charity of your choice.

 The funeral chapel is not involved in the service.