Gainesville's Lucile Fortuna Carter, a longtime activist and volunteer in the community, passed away Saturday at the age of 90.
According to her obituary, Carter previously served on the Gainesville Board of Education, where she was a voice for the desegregation of the city school system. She also previously served with the Gainesville Planning and Appeals Board, the Gainesville Junior Service League.
Carter was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Don Carter. Lucile and Don moved to Gainesville in 1957.
"Over the next six decades, they devoted much of their lives to the betterment of this community and the preservation of North Georgia's natural beauty," Lucile's obituary reads. "Simply put, Lucile and Don believed that they bettered their family when they bettered their community."
She was born in Montgomery, Alabama, spent her early years in Biloxi, Mississippi, and later moved with her family to Atlanta. She graduated from Druid Hills High School and later attended Mercer University where she graduated in 1953 with an A.B. in history. Lucile met Don during her sophomore year. They were married at Christmas during their senior year.
The couple eventually brought their family to Gainesville, where Lucile focused on volunteering in education, the arts and historical preservation. She started serving a term on the Enota Elementary PTA, a volunteering effort that would culminate with her serving 13 years on the Gainesville City Schools Board of Education. Additionally, she was Chairman of the board from 1980 to 1982.
"During the 1960s and 70s, Lucile was a powerful voice for inclusion and peace during the Civil Rights Movement and the desegregation of the city school system," her obituary reads.
She later served with the Gainesville High School Booster Club and was honored in 2009 with an honorary degree from the school. Lucile was also a trustee of the Gainesville Junior College and a Trustee of Mercer University.
Additionally, she was a member of the First Baptist Church of Gainesville, where she taught Sunday school for 12 years. The Gainesville Rotary Club honored Lucile as Woman of the Year in 1988.
Lucile served on the Georgia Trust for Historical Preservation and the Georgia Mountains Historical and Cultural Trust, along with the Georgia Citizens for the Arts and Gainesville's Quinlan Visual Arts Center.
"On a far larger scale, Don and Lucile developed the second home community of "Skylake" in Sautee, GA," Lucile's obituary reads. "Previously a summer camp, Don and Lucile preserved the existing structures and added a working General Store and a Drug Store Museum. While the stores are no longer there, the development is now comprised of over 700 permanent and second homes."
A state park was opened on July 15, 2013, on Lake Lanier bearing Don's name, known as Don Carter State Parker.
There will not be a memorial service per Lucile's wishes. However, the family requests donations be made in lieu of flowers to the "Shaw Carter Memorial Fund" at Young Harris College, P.O. Box 275, Young Harris, GA 30582.
Those wishing to send online condolences to the family may do so at littledavenport.com.
