William Thomas Carter

William Thomas “Skipper” Carter Jr., MD, lived a life of service. His goal always was to make someone feel happy and comfortable. From his earliest years as a precocious kid, he had a presence that some described as “bigger than life,” coupled with an athlete’s confidence and heart, and a ready smile.

Raised in Petersburg, VA, Skip and his family traveled frequently, enjoying time with relatives and friends across the country. During those formative years, he learned about the family’s legacy of academic excellence and service. His first cousin, Dr. Samuel DeWitt Proctor, a renowned minister, college president, and humanitarian, was perhaps best known as a mentor and friend to Martin Luther King Jr. Skip’s father, Dr. William Thomas Carter Sr., was a college professor who was assigned to various foreign and domestic posts in the service of the U. S. Government. His mother, Hermione Hughes Carter, a schoolteacher, loved her son unconditionally. A handwritten note from his mother, dated August 2, 1982, affirms: “Happiness is making others happy.” This simple yet profound statement speaks volumes about her influence on Skip’s commitment to a life of service.

A stay in Dakar, Senegal, in his late teens opened Skip’s eyes to the world far beyond America, affording him a deeper understanding and pride in his place in the world. The experience also kindled a love of travel, which continued throughout his life.

In preparation for a life of service, Skip received the Master of Science degree from Tennessee State University, Nashville, 1969. He graduated from Meharry Medical College, Nashville, in 1973.

As a Commander, Medical Corps, in the U.S. Navy for nearly 30 years, he served as an emergency medicine physician and managed emergency medicine facilities at nationwide military installations, including Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (formerly National Naval Medical Center), Quantico Marine Base (Virginia), Andrews Air Force Base (Camp Springs, Maryland), and Portsmouth Naval Hospital Center (Virginia). Following his military service, Skip served as an emergency medicine physician at hospitals and clinics across the Washington metropolitan area, including United Medical Center (Washington, D.C.) and MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center (Clinton, Maryland).
His professional memberships include the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States, National Medical Association, and American College of Emergency Physicians. In addition, he was a Grand Chapter Life Member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity and a member of the Norfolk Chapter of the National Association of Guardsmen, Incorporated.

To both colleagues and patients, Skip was always professional, respectful, a good listener, easygoing, and an entertaining storyteller. For Skip, being a physician was a privilege. He believed he was merely God’s conduit, using his head, heart, and hands to help His people.
Skip delighted in the simplest of God’s handiwork – a deer in the front yard at dawn, birds flying in formation across the ocean at sunset, a makeshift yet magical butterfly farm on a tiny island, a casual floral arrangement on the table. He had a heart for all of God’s creations, experiencing even the mundane with an unexpected wonder. He savored life, always inquisitive, open-hearted, kind, and caring. His was truly a life of service, sharing his gifts and talents with all he encountered. He will be missed, for sure, but his legacy of love and laughter will long remain in our hearts.

Skip’s love will endure in the hearts of his family: his wife, Jacqueline Venable Carter; children, Dominique Michelle Carter, William T. Carter III (Kati), Brittany Nicole Carter Dobynes (Aaron), Dr. Asha-Lateef Williams, and Tiasha Malitha Carter; grandchildren, William Thomas Carter IV, Leilani Aleiya Carter, Alphonso Carter; and Jeremiah Redd Carter-King; and a host of other relatives, friends, and colleagues.