Joseph E. Carter, 98, passed away on Monday, January 6th, 2014 at his home in Clinton, MS. Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 9th from 5:00pm 8:00pm at Wright Ferguson funeral home in Clinton.

Born in Citrus County Florida, Mr. Carter served in the Army Air Corps during WWII receiving the Distinguished Unit Badge and EuropeanAfricanMiddle Eastern service medals. During his years of living in Raymond, Mr. Carter was a member of Salem Baptist Church for over 60 years and became a 32nd degree and Scottish rite Master Mason.

Mr. Carter was a land developer, home builder and realtor in the JacksonClinton areas with his first home being built on Old Brandon Road in Pearl in 1946 and his last endeavors being Huntcliff and Cascades Developments in Clinton. J. E. retired from building homes at the age of 93.

Mr. Carter was very proud of various awards presented to him during his career. Among them were the Silver Hammer Award in the 1950s, which was a National Home Builders award, Clinton Outstanding Citizen of the Year in 2003, Mississippis Outstanding Older Worker of the Year in 2001 when he was 85, Mississippi Home Builder Hall of Fame, and President of the Jackson Home Builders Association in 1965.

He is survived by seven children: Joseph Emmett Carter, Jr. of Waycross, GA Ruth Ann Osborn of Lebanon, MS Peggy Jo Gates of Learned, MS Susan Daughety of Raymond, MS Ruby Lynn Smith of Starkville, MS and Joseph Edward Carter of Clinton, MS who lived with and cared for his father for the last two years. He had 16 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, and 4 greatgreat grandchildren. He was preceded in death by son, William Joseph Carter and brothers, Jack Carter and Raymond Carter.

In lieu of flowers the family is asking for memorials to go to the J. E. Carter Nursing Scholarship Fund at Mississippi College at P.O Box 4005, Clinton, MS 39058. This fund was started in memory of Mr. Carters father.