Helen Carter

The journey began February 3, 1914, when the beautiful bouncing little baby girl with the enchanting hazel eyes was born to Matthew and Bessie Alexander Hunter in Atlanta, Georgia. Her name was Helen Felma Hunter.

Her elementary school years were spent at Fulton County Public Schools. She then attended and graduated from Clark College Preparatory School. Following that, two years were completed at Clark College. She later moved to Detroit, Michigan, where she met and married the late Fletcher Carter in 1936. Fletcher was inducted into the military and sent to Camp Beale, California, and Helen followed him there. While in California, the Carters were blessed with a son, Fletcher Eugene Carter, born on January 14, 1946.

The entire family returned to Detroit in 1946, and on June 11, 1947, a daughter, Felma Suzette Carter, was born. While raising both children, Helen returned to school at Wayne State University to complete the education she had begun at Clark College, which by that time was known as Clark Atlanta University. She pursued and received a diploma in guidance and counseling. Upon receiving her certification as a social worker, Helen worked for the city of Detroit, Mayor's Committee for Human Resources Development, as a counselor for thirteen years. Her joy was counseling and developing Detroit's youth. She retired from the city in 1986.

Her retirement opened another page of her journey. At that point in time, Helen and Fletcher Carter began to travel the world. They journeyed to the near and far corners of the earth. England, Holland, Germany, France, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Spain, Greece, Sierra Leone, Addis Ababa, Lagos, Turkey, Egypt, Algeria, and the Caribbean became their playground for many years. And play they did ..... with all the joy and fullness of life.

Helen's strong belief in the higher education of African-American youth encouraged her to invest time and energy into the vision and mission of the United Negro College Fund. Her many different positions in the organization included membership on the executive council, the steering committee for the Mid-West Region for Clark Alumni Association, and the Detroit chapter of the fund raising committee of Clark College Alumni and Paul Quinn College alumni. For more than forty years, Helen and her husband worked tirelessly together for the UNCF Detroit Inter-Alumni Council as members, contributors, committee chairs, and fund raisers. Because of her impeccable and steadfast service, she was also a recipient of the UNCF Gold Medallion and was recognized at a luncheon last year honoring those whose service to the UNCF exceeded 40 years.

Helen was also a member of Central United Methodist Church for more than 40 years. She served in many capacities there, as well. She served on the trustee committee, the finance committee, and on the board of directors for the church's resale shop. In addition, she volunteered for more than 20 years in the church's resale shop and served as a receptionist in the church office after the Sunday services.

So ..... where did her journey end? It hasn't. She lives on. She lives on in the grace, graciousness, elegance, refinement and joie de vivre that she exemplified.

The journey continues with Helen's legacy: one son (Fletcher Carter), one daughter (Suzette Carter-Saulnier), one granddaughter (Morgan VanBuskirk), nine great grandchildren, and one great great granddaughter.