Paula Jean Carter

Paula Jean Carter, 72, of Lake Park, Georgia, passed away on June 26, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.

Paula was a woman who measured her life not by accomplishments, but by relationships: the lifelong friends she cherished, the grandchildren who never wanted for anything as long as she was around, the children who molded their lives in her image, and the husband who faithfully loved her for more than five decades. Her greatest legacy was not found in what she owned or achieved, but in the people who were blessed to know and love her.

As the youngest daughter of a Pentecostal minister, Paula spent much of her childhood at church. It was there, on a Sunday morning at the ripe age of 9, that she met her future husband, D. Larry Carter. Their childhood friendship grew into a lifelong love story, and they were married on July 25, 1970, beginning a marriage built on faith, devotion, and unwavering commitment.

Paula spent most of her life in Lowndes County. She followed Larry to Cecil, where together they raised their two children, Doug and Melissa. From an early age, she learned the value of hard work and perseverance, lessons she carried with her throughout her life. 

Along with her husband, she played a vital role in the day to day operations and success of several family businesses, including Carter Rental & Equipment, Inc., Carter’s II Party Rentals, Choice Automotive, and Quail Branch. As if she didn’t have enough on her plate, she also found the time to nurture the successes of her children’s endeavors from furniture and interiors with her son at Carter & Company and the Squirrel’s Nest to retail, blueberries, and events with her daughter at the Children’s Corner and Quail Branch Lodge and Farm. 

Whether caring for her family, supporting those she loved, or quietly serving others, she approached every responsibility with strength, grace, and determination.

To her family, Paula was their safe place and an unending source of comfort, wisdom, and love. She celebrated every joy, carried every burden alongside those she loved, and gave of herself without hesitation. Her home was always open, her table always welcoming, and her heart always big enough for one more. She leaves behind countless stories and treasured memories.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Betty Jean and Paul Norton Starling; her siblings, Patsy Crafton, Donald Starling, and Robert Starling; her brother-in-law, William Walter Geyer; and her parents-in-law, Audrey and Doyce Lee Carter.

She is survived by her beloved husband of nearly 56 years, Larry Carter, of Lake Park, Georgia; her son, Doug Carter (Christy) of Valdosta, Georgia; her daughter, Melissa Boatenreiter (Lee) of Lake Park, Georgia; her grandchildren, Mary Alex Carter of Valdosta, Georgia, Davis Carter (Jamie) of Valdosta, Georgia, Carter Boatenreiter of Lake Park, Georgia, and Converse Boatenreiter of Lake Park, Georgia; her sisters-in-law, Myrtle Geyer and Vicki Starling, both of Valdosta, Georgia; along with several cherished nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends who will forever treasure her memory.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at 11 AM at First Baptist Church, Valdosta. A private graveside is to follow. A visitation will be held the night prior at Music Funeral Services of Valdosta from 5 PM to 7 PM on Monday, June 29, 2026. Kind words and expressions of sympathy can be left for the family at www.musicfuneralservices.com. The Carter family is being served by the professional and caring staff of Music Funeral Services of Valdosta. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Children's Imagination Station at Annette Howell Turner Center of the Arts.www.turnercenter.org