Joanne Stalvey Carter

Joanne Stalvey Carter, 91, of Cayce, South Carolina, passed away on September 28, 2026. She was born in Georgetown, South Carolina, on February 24, 1935, to the late Ernest Clyde Stalvey, Sr. and Vivian Rouse Stalvey.

Joanne graduated from Winyah High School in Georgetown, South Carolina, where she was a cheerleader and played on the girls' varsity basketball team. After graduation, she attended Limestone College in Gaffney, South Carolina. While there, she was a member of the Kalosophia academic honorary society, Chi Beta Phi science fraternity, and Phi Kappa Theta Social Club. She also held various offices in Student Government and the Women's Athletic Association.

She later married the love of her life, Fletcher Carter, also of Georgetown, shortly after he completed his U.S. Army tour of duty in Japan. Together they built a wonderful life and raised five children: Raleigh, Kevin, Terrill, Stanley, and Merrilynn.

Joanne dedicated more than 45 years to South Carolina public education. She began her career as a physical education teacher and girls' varsity basketball coach at Socastee High School in Socastee, South Carolina, the first of many teaching positions she would hold throughout the state. After the birth of her five children, she continued her education at Columbia College, earning a Master of Science degree. She ultimately spent most of her career teaching elementary school science, positively influencing the lives of countless children across South Carolina.

Joanne was an elegant, positive, outgoing, athletic, confident, and intelligent woman who always sought the best in everyone she met. She deeply loved her family, her faith, her friends, her pets, and her students. It was not uncommon to be out with Joanne and hear a former student excitedly call out, "Mrs. Carter!" before rushing over to greet her with a hug. Those moments reflected the lasting impact she had on the lives of so many people.

She was predeceased by her son, Stanley Carter; her parents; and her brothers, Clyde Stalvey Jr., Dorrance Stalvey, and Tom Stalvey.

She is survived by her son Raleigh Carter Jr. and his wife, Karen; her son Kevin Carter and his wife, Cheryl; her son Terrill Carter and his wife, Nancy; her daughter Merrilynn Spires and her husband, Earl; as well as several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Joanne was an active member of various churches throughout her life and most recently at Broadacres Baptist Church in Cayce, South Carolina.

Her legacy lives on through the generations of students she inspired, the family she cherished, and the countless lives she touched through her unwavering faith, kindness, and dedication to education.

The family will receive friends at the church at 12:00 p.m., with a funeral service to follow at 1:00 p.m., on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at Broadacres Baptist Church, located at 2350 Taylor Road, Cayce, South Carolina. Following the funeral, a brief graveside service will be held at Greenlawn Memorial Park, 845 Leesburg Road, Columbia, South Carolina.