Obituaries
Mike Carter
John Michael “Mike” Carter
John Michael “Mike” Carter, 80, of Crawfordville, passed away at his home with loving family Nov. 16, 2022.
He was born Feb. 11th, 1942, at the Dale Mabry field hospital in Tallahassee. Mike lived with gusto from the beginning – hunting, fishing, and gallivanting around the Big Bend. He and his family moved to Jacksonville when Mike was 12, where the fun continued!
He was a leader throughout his school years, holding various positions as a student body president, captaining many clubs and civic organizations, and excelling as a student athlete. Mike played basketball, was a champion diver, and played football as a powerful and dynamic running back. A true “Renaissance man” it was on the shores of Lake Ellen in Wakulla County, around a campfire one night, that Mike realized the power of the written word. He discovered the book Walden Pond by Henry David Thoreau, and for the rest of his life, had a great reverence for learning and nature. The woods and water were his home.
Mike graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Jacksonville, in the class of 1960. He loved his high school classmates, helping to plan and coordinate many reunions over the decades. Upon graduation, he worked as a garbage man in Yellowstone National Park, before enrolling at the University of Florida. He spent one semester at UF before he was off again – this time traveling to New York City where he worked as a mechanic, then earned his seaman’s license and began working on ships. Aboard a freighter to France, he made a new plan. Disembarking, he enrolled at the University of Madrid for a year, before returning to the U.S. to graduate from the University of Florida with a degree in Latin American Studies. With the assistance of his grandfather Jerry W. Carter, a prominent Florida politician, and Gov. Leroy Collins, Mike gathered letters of entry into numerous Central and South American countries. Forever thrifty, he began saving his money.
Interrupting a history lecture one day, he offered to buy his professor’s old motorcycle. Within the year, he was touring Latin America on the BMW. Mike kept incredible journals of all his travels, mailing his writings home to his parents periodically. He rode his motorcycle through cities and villages, making friends and recording what he saw. During his 13 month trip, he spent the most time in Brazil, believing he might even live his life there. When he returned to the U.S., he taught seventh grade history. Mike went from testing limits, to grading tests – a period in his life where he “never drank so many martinis.”
A new plan was formed… Mike enrolled at Cumberland Law School of Samford University in Alabama graduating in 1970. While in law school he earned his Master’s in history. He referred to law school as one of the best experiences of his life. He won awards for his skill in oratorical arguments and was admitted to the Florida and Georgia Bars. While living in Georgia, he married and welcomed two beautiful twin daughters, Andrea and Julia. In Atlanta, Mike worked as Assistant District Attorney, handling over 342 felony cases. He also worked as legal house counsel for the Life of Georgia insurance company. Craving adventure again, Mike began his plans for an even bigger international journey. In 1973, he backpacked throughout Europe, Africa, India, and Asia on a budget of $3 a day. He again mailed home letters and journal entries. He climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, swam in the waters of Victoria Falls, climbed the ruins of Greek and Roman civilization, danced in the Taj Mahal by moonlight, touched the walls of temple and shrine. He spent nights at fancy diplomatic parties, nights in jails, but mostly, he spent nights under the stars in the jungles, deserts, hills, mountains, plains, in the woods, and on the water that he loved. After a year and a half abroad, he returned to the U.S., 40 pounds lighter and ready to settle down.
The President of his law school knew of two jobs for Mike – one out in Alaska which never panned out, and one in Tallahassee. Mike began practicing law at a Tallahassee firm but was soon moved to a new branch the firm was starting in Wakulla County. Mike’s mother, Maxine Smith, had relatives in Sopchoppy, and his parents had owned property around Lake Ellen for decades. When the law firm decided to close their Wakulla branch, Mike bought the building. In 1975, he began his own private law practice. Located directly across the street from the Courthouse in Crawfordville, he could represent his clients and file his motions, then slip over to Lake Ellen for duck hunting before the sun went down. Mike designed and built an eccentric yet altogether commodious bachelor pad high in the trees. His permed afro, bright green eyes, his love for the outdoors, and razor wit won him many friends.
Mike threw himself into Wakulla County civic life. He was a founding member of the Wakulla Men’s Association and remained active in the Optimist Club to the end. He served on the Board of the Wakulla County Historical Society, was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, and helped compile the history of Wakulla County for the Wakulla Bicentennial Exhibition. Mike helped to entrust the property for the Sopchoppy Myron B. Hodge City Park, and donated his legal services to help numerous churches, non-profits, and community organizations. It was an early morning meeting of the Wakulla Optimists where Mike first met Andrea. In 10 minutes, he knew. Four years later in 1982 (Andrea needed time to consider) they married at Friendship Baptist Church in Medart.
By this time, Mike was serving as Wakulla County Judge. He earned the nickname “Landslide Carter” in 1978 when he won his first election for the judgeship by 2 votes. After all, he’d won by double the votes necessary – you’d only need one to win. He served three terms as County Judge, continuing his civic roles in the community. He was the Recreation Department’s Easter Bunny, a neighborhood Santa Claus, hosted Brain Brawls, Spelling Bees, and spoke to history classes at Wakulla High School.
Mike and Andrea had three daughters, Maria, Elena, and Lucy. His daughters Andrea and Julia came back into his life, and so, there he was – surrounded by women. Naturally, in any spare time, he was out in the woods or on the water. In 1990, Mike returned to his law practice. He became a soccer dad, science project dad, performance dad, and always a hunting and fishing dad. His devotion to Andrea was boundless. He was her consummate teammate in her career and her passions as an educator in Wakulla County.
In 2007, he retired from the practice of law. In retirement, he and Andrea sailed most of the major lakes in the U.S. Mike loved sailing and would trailer his 26 foot MacGregor “The Vision” to any destination. He loved camping, fishing, and rafting in the mountains of North Carolina, and enjoyed excursions out West. He once owned a covered wagon. He’d eat his fish with scales on. His bucket list was long, and at the end, his bucket was full. Mike lived the biggest life.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Maxine Smith Carter and Robert Gordon Carter; by his siblings, Frances Hollified “Holly” Carter, Robert Timothy “Tim” Carter; and by his daughter, Julia Ellen Carter.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Andrea Faza Carter; and his daughters, Andrea P. Carter-Mundel (Sam Mundel), Maria Carter (Aurelia Aubert), Elena Myhre (Rick Myhre) and Lucy Carter. His two grandsons, Bobby and Chesley Myhre, are the boys he always wanted. His chocolate lab, BC, remained devoted to the end.
Mike was a founding Board member and former President of the Wakulla Academic Boosters. The organization, a passion of Mike and Andrea’s, endows and awards scholarships to deserving Wakulla County students. Tax-deductible contributions may be made to Wakulla Academic Boosters Inc. at wakullaacademicboosters.org. Checks may be mailed to P.O. Box 448 Crawfordville FL 32326.
A Memorial Service will be held at Family Funeral Home in Harvey Young Chapel on Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. The family will receive friends at 4 p.m., service will begin at 5 p.m. and a reception will immediately follow the service.
Skip & Trey Young with Family Funeral Home are assisting the Carter family. 850-926-5919 Familyfhc.com