Vera Carter

Vera Mae Murray Carter, 86, of Windermere, Florida, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, June 13, 2017. She was born on April 1, 1931, to Thomas and Gladys Murray in Jesup, Georgia. Vera excelled in school academically as a youth, and her fierce determination and community mindedness were traits that would steer the course of her professional career. Vera married Jack Carter in 1960, her husband of 44 years. Together they had three children and she devoted her time as a Girl Scout Leader, Red Cross First Aid Instructor and Swim Instructor, Cub Scout Den Mother, and PTA President. She also served faithfully in the church as a lifelong Sunday school teacher. Her community involvement continued as she went on to serve as Orange County Commissioner for three terms from 1980 to 1992. She was an advocate for the environment, the "mother" of the West Orange Trail, South Florida Water Management District Board Member, established the 440-acre Tibet Butler Preserve and was honored with the Vera Carter Environmental Center named in tribute to her. She led the fight for Orange County's wetlands protection regulations adopted in 1987, pushed for regulations that protect the Wekiva River, was a West Orange Memorial Hospital Board Member, and served on the Orange County Planning and Zoning Commission and the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council. Vera was appointed by Governor Graham to the Growth Management Advisory Committee, provided invaluable support for regulations adopted to protect the Econlockhatchee River, consistently pushed for acquisition of parklands and increased funding for recreational services resulting in a $25 million land acquisition program for Orange County. She lead the way for the County's open space requirements, mandatory garbage collection and recycling, protection of lakeshore vegetation and water quality standards.
She loved gardening, traveling, key lime pie, playing tennis and bridge, and socializing. She was a founding member of Bloom and Grow Garden Society. Those that knew her well would say she was as stubborn as she was honest, hardworking and a natural leader.
Vera was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Carter, and siblings Margie Tyre, Laverne Murray, Kenneth Murray, Bernard Murray and Nina Jones. Vera is survived by two sons, Jack Carter (Audrey) and Mark Carter (Nikki) and one daughter, Lynne Erickson (Russ); six grandchildren, Kristen, Katie, Jessie, Jake, Grant, and Charli; four great-grandchildren, Hazel Mae, Molly, Rose, and Will; her sister Althea Yates, and brother Richard Murray, as well as many friends and loved ones that will cherish her memory.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 am on Monday, June 19, 2017 at The First Baptist Church of Windermere. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made, in Vera's memory, to 1000 Friends of Florida http://www.1000friendsofflorida.org/donate/ and the Alzheimer's Association alz.org.

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