R.H. Carter, longtime senior center director, passes
R.H. Carter
By WILLIAM SNOWDEN Editor
R.H. Carter, the former executive director of the Wakulla Senior Citizen Center, died on Wednesday, Dec. 7. He was 79.
He was financial officer for Wakulla Public Schools until he retired.
He took over running the senior center and built the new building and oversaw construction of the adjacent senior center apartments. He oversaw expansion of the county transportation department, which is run by the senior center, and expanded offerings to local seniors. He often said that the biggest threat to seniors was loneliness and it was the job of the center to give seniors somewhere to go where they could socialize and have a meal and do something.
He retired again, saying he wanted to care for his ailing wife, Beverly. While retired, the senior center building was named for him in his honor. After Maurice Langston stepped down as senior center director, the board convinced Carter to come back temporarily – he worked for no pay for a period – while the board sought a new director, and ultimately convinced Carter to stay.
But Carter’s time at the center did not end well: He was fired by the board for insubordination and his name struck from the building.
Prior to all of that, Carter was widely respected for his financial acumen and his dedication to Wakulla County and its senior citizens.