Kelly Carter

Kelly Robert Carter passed from this world into the arms of Christ on July 6th, 2026. Kelly was born on September 13, 1948 to the late Robert and Hattie Carter. Kelly had several important things in his life. Kelly was a teacher of the highest caliber, who taught close to a thousand elementary students science and math as a 6th grade teacher in Metro-Nashville Public Schools. Kelly loved doing science experiments with his students. He wrote grants to get the necessary equipment to do wonderful experiments, including erupting volcanoes, pictures taken of plants and insects, and a large portable science lab that could be moved to teach throughout the Gra-Mar Elementary/Middle School building. Kelly also taught Sunday School beginning as a teenager and would continue to teach for over 50 years mainly at Bethel Church of the Nazarene in Nashville. Bethel was another love of Kelly’s. At Bethel, Kelly was a teacher, board member, youth worker, basketball coach, a fixit man and one who provided food and shelter for the homeless through Room In the Inn with Georgia and their church family. Kelly loved his students, the members of his church and his family very much. Kelly was a big brother to Philip, Beverly, Pamela and Larry. He considered them his best friends and loved them and their families as well. Kelly was so proud of his nieces and nephews who are award winning teachers and professors, mechanics, those who work with the disabled, and an attorney in the making, as well as mothers and fathers of the highest quality. Kelly loved any sport with a ball from Kentucky Basketball to the Cincinnati Reds. But really what Kelly most loved on this earth was Georgia. They met at Trevecca Nazarene College, quickly got engaged and then married on November 28th of 1968. Kelly gave limited but wonderful wisdom and once said, “Who you marry is very important. Choose wisely. I did.” Kelly and Georgia had three beautiful, talented and very intelligent children, Julie, Mindy and Troy (can you tell that Troy is writing this!). Kelly and Georgia gave themselves to being parents in an extraordinary way. They raised their children to love family and learning, especially reading, and the Church of Jesus Christ as well. Eventually came grandchildren and they didn’t stop for a while. Jacob, Isaiah, Chere, Rose, Emery, Alexis, Mira and Alena would soon become an amazing challenge for Kelly and Georgia. The challenge was to see how much they could spoil 8 grandchildren and still get away with it. The Carter family loves gathering around birthdays, Sunday meals and especially at Christmas, where there is usually someone else invited to share the meal and the love that flows among them. This love reflects the most important love of Kelly’s life, Jesus. Kelly was a follower of Jesus in his work, in the way he spent his time and in the way that he raised his family with Georgia. The love, sacrifice and loyalty that Jesus gave to the world, and to Kelly, was reflected in the way Kelly lived in the classroom, in the Church, with his children and grandchildren, and with Georgia. The love of Jesus and the love of family and the love of his loyal wife were on display when on his last day of this life, Kelly was surrounded by his brother and sister, all of his children, several of his grandchildren and his wife. They were with him when he left this world to meet his savior. We give thanks to God for the love of Christ and a life well lived in Kelly Robert Carter.

The funeral for Kelly Carter will be Saturday, July 11th at Bethel Church of the Nazarene, 455 Broadmoor Drive, Nashville, TN 37216. The family will receive greetings at 10:00am and the funeral will begin at 11am. Reverend, Dr. Brannon Hancock will be officiating. The family of Kelly Carter is asking that any donations, in lieu of flowers, be sent to Shelby's Way, Room In the Inn or Bethel Church of the Nazarene. Both Room In the Inn donations and those for Bethel can be sent to Bethel Church of the Nazarene, 455 Broadmoor Drive, Nashville, TN 37216. If you would like to give in Kelly's name to Shelby's Way, please visit Shelbysway.com.