James Warner Carter

Rev. James W. Carter went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, March 15.  Born on November 7, 1941 in Keyport, NJ, he led a full and storied life.

As a young man Rev. Carter was actively involved in civil rights, and pastored in several churches, including as Associate Minister at Shiloh Baptist in Trenton, NJ.  After a trip to Africa and the Middle East in the mid 1980s, he felt compelled to focus on community and activist ministry. His work included the founding of Mustard Seed Ministries in Red Bank, NJ and La Soul, a company created to provide employment to recovering addicts and alcoholics. La Soul, a nationally recognized company, produced gourmet pies and ingredients for Ben & Jerry's Apple Pie Frozen Yoghurt.  After moving to CT in 1998, he soon became the Executive Director of the Council of Churches and Synagogues of SW CT and later the Executive Director of the Norwalk Children's Foundation.

He was predeceased by his father James Warner Carter (Sr.), his mother Marion Ellen Carter, and his two brothers William Carter and Charles Albert Carter.

Rev. Carter is survived by his wife of 22 years Mary Peniston and stepdaughter Nora Bendana as well as his sisters Arline Stewart of Sarasota, FL, and Vicki Key of Princeton, NJ; his daughter Yvonne Renay Carter Jones, grandson Douglas P. Kemp, and great granddaughter Jordan Renee Kemp, all of Bear, DE;  his son James Warner Carter, III, and wife Tracy, granddaughter Brianne Leigh Carter and grandson Trey Warner Carter of Cartersville, VA; son William J Watson and wife Natasha Taylor-Watson, and granddaughter Kamryn Annmarie Watson of Lawrence NJ.

Friends are invited to greet the family on Saturday March 19, 2016 from 10:00 to 11:00 am in the Norfield Congregational Church, 64 Norfield Rd. Weston. A funeral service will begin at 11:00 am.

A person who touched so many lives and who always fought for justice, he can be honored by making a donation to the Rev. James Carter Memorial Fund for Social Action at Norfield Congregational Church in Weston, CT. Please visit www.Norwalkfh.com for more information.