Shirley Sullivan Carter

Pageland, SC

Mrs. Shirley Sullivan Carter entered into rest on Friday, August 1, 2025 at the age of 80. The Celebration of Life Service will be held in the First Baptist Church Pageland sanctuary with Dr. Joel Dale officiating on Saturday, August 9, 2025 at 3:00 PM. The family will receive friends between the hours of 1:00-3:00 PM, prior to the service in the fellowship hall.

Born on November 2, 1944, in Lancaster, SC, to the late Fred and Thelma Sullivan, Mrs. Carter lived seventy-six of her eighty years in this area with deep roots in the community. Shirley’s entire life focused on faith, family and education.

Mrs. Carter grew up attending Fork Creek Methodist Church in Jefferson, which her family helped establish. A longtime, faithful member of First Baptist Church Pageland, she sang in the choir, served on many committees and ministries, and cherished her Sunday School group, the Christmas Class. She was known for her kind, giving spirit.

A loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and aunt, her family was the center of her life. Spending time with those she loved brought her immense joy. Shirley’s commitment to her family was displayed daily in large and small ways including driving frequently to High Point and Raleigh for visits and never missing a birthday visit with each of her five grandchildren through age 18. She was very close with her four siblings her entire life. They spent time together often and loved laughing together. Most of all, she was devoted to the love of her life, Vernon. They shared 60 years of marriage filled with love, enduring partnership, and laughter.

Mrs. Carter was committed to education both personally and professionally, earning advanced degrees in education and serving for decades as an elementary school teacher and guidance counselor in Pageland, Jefferson and Cheraw. She was a lifelong learner who passed her commitment to education and service to her children and grandchildren who all have or are pursuing degrees. They also follow her example of service through careers in ministry, teaching, public service, nursing and other fields.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Carter was preceded in death by her father-in-law and mother-in-law Walter and Henrietta Carter of Pageland, all of whom she loved dearly. Mrs. Carter is survived by her loving husband, Vernon F. Carter; son, Lin (Tonya) Carter of Raleigh, NC, and their children, Joshua Carter, Catherine Carter and Caleb Carter; daughter, Stephanie (Ryan) Kirby of High Point, NC, and their children, Anna Kristin Kirby and Grayson Kirby; siblings, Jerry (Jill) Sullivan, Donnie (Judy) Sullivan, Mickey (Gwen) Sullivan, and Debbie Helms; in addition to numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Pageland (www.fbcpageland.com), PO Box 126, Pageland, SC 29728.

The family expresses their gratitude to the friends and church family of Mrs. Carter for their unwavering friendship and support.

Miller-Rivers-Caulder Funeral Home (www.mrcfuneralhome.com) of Chesterfield, SC is serving the Carter family.