Elder Willie Gene Carter was born September 14, 1956 in St. Petersburg, Florida to Willie C. Carter and Louise (Kennedy) Carter, and departed this life on May 29, 2022 at the age of 65.

Willie was a 1975 graduate of Carroll High School.  He enlisted in the United States Army on January 3, 1978 and served until October 11, 1979.  Following his military service, Willie lived most of his adult life in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  He returned to Ozark in 2017, where he remained until his death.

He enjoyed spending time with his "Ride or Die" friends, Eddie Crittendon and Rickey Hill, loved fishing, was a hustler when it came to making money, and was a man with vision.  In his early years, Willie served the Lord by spreading His word as a minister.

Willie is preceded in death by his parents, Willie C. Carter and Louise (Kennedy) Carter of Ozark, Alabama and his brother, Willie Earl Carter of Bay Minette, Alabama.

He leaves to cherish his memory his three sons, Maurice Carter of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Michael Carter of Sterling, Colorado and Marcus Carter of Ozark, Alabama; one step daughter and son-in-law, Akisha (Dewon) Chaney of San Diego, California; three grandchildren, Andrea Chaney, Jasmine Chaney, and Leah Chaney, all of San Diego, California; two brothers, Layman Carter of Ozark, Alabama and Louis Carter of Enterprise, Alabama; two sisters and two brothers-in-law, Willie Dean (Richard, Sr.) Williams and Armon Jean (John, Sr.) Thompson, all of Ozark, Alabama; and a host of nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, and many friends.