Overseer James Edward Carter, Sr. (Lansing)

Overseer James Edward Carter Sr. made his transition to Heavenly Reward on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, at Sparrow Health Systems, Sparrow Campus in Lansing, Michigan at the age of 78 years old. He was born November 27, 1944, in Caseyville, Mississippi to the family of Fred McDaniel and Otis Bell McDaniel (Carter).

Overseer Carter was a loving husband, father, brother, grandfather, friend and Pastor. James met his loving wife Ruby Carter (Clay) in Brookhaven, Mississippi where they later married on December 2nd, 1967. James and his family moved to Lansing, Michigan in 1968. There the family joined St. Matthew A.M.E. Church where James accepted his calling to ministry; a call he would dedicate the remainder of his life to fulfilling. Later he became the Assistant Pastor of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, where his stewardship journey began. Upon moving to Lansing, James worked for Diamond Reo, Granger Construction, and retired from Christman Construction Company.

Overseer James Edward Carter Sr. founded Solid Rock Full Gospel Baptist Church in 1983 in a basement with 12 members. He not only founded the church but built it with his hands in collaboration with his members and two brothers, Pastor Carroll Carter and Pastor E.D. Clay. Overseer knew the people were the church and totally belong to God. His mission was to build community with his gift of unconditional love for all people. He casted that vision of love throughout the Lansing community and in return the community helped him build the church. He was a true example of servant leadership, discipleship and selflessness for over 40 years in ministry. He believed in the Full Gospel of the Bible, which prompted him to change the name to Solid Rock Full Gospel Baptist Church. During his time as Pastor, Overseer James Edward Carter Sr. helped birth 11 Churches and ordained over 70 ministers in the Greater Lansing area. He also had the vision in 2001 of taking a multi occupant doctor's office and once again renovate it with his hands into the place we currently call “The Rock”, nail by nail, board by board. In October of 2015, he was led by God to pass the mantle of Solid Rock Full Gospel Church to his youngest son Pastor Marlon R. Carter to continue his legacy of love for God’s people.

Overseer had a lifelong career in the music industry as a singer and songwriter. He grew up singing with his family as a young boy and then went on to sing in many quartet groups as the tenor and lead singer and songwriter. Those groups included The Mighty Stars, Voices of Faith, Carter Cooney and Wells, and The Carter Brothers. His singles with The Mighty Stars, “You Don’t Know How Blessed You Are,” and “God Got His Eyes on You,” recorded with Delta Records went on to be placed on the compilation album Rock The Church, released in 1994 in Japan. “You Don’t Know How Blessed You Are,” also went on to be placed on another compilation album The French Blues & Soul Magazine Soul Bag released in 2009 in France. Overseer loved to sing and loved to influenced others to express their gift by tapping into the anointing and letting God have his way. He would sing with his family while they traveled back and forth to Mississippi, teaching them the art of being able to sing all 5 part of harmony. Overseer leaves behind a deep legacy of music through his songs, family, Church, and friends.

He leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife, whom he loved so dearly, Evangelist Ruby Mae Carter; 2 daughters and 3 sons, Ronnie Carter, Sr., Retina Stewart Carter, Sheila Carter, James E. (Sonya) Carter Jr., and Marlon (Traci) Carter; loving grandchildren, that he loved so much, Manny Johnson, Theoplis Johnson, Ronnie Carter Jr., Shamaria Roby, Derek Carter, LeAngelo Glasscoe, Tierra Williams, Alexandria Walton, She’lia Roby, Andre Carter, Chase Carter, Bryce Carter, Austin Carter, Dallas Carter; many great grandchildren; Godson, Corey Clay Sr.; sisters and brothers, Barbara Allen, Alfreda Patton, William (Laverne) Carter, Carroll (Louise) Carter, Mary (Jeremiah) Bryant, Bennie McDaniel, Chauncey (Cassandra) McDaniel and Felicia McDaniel; many nieces, nephews, and cousins; sisters-in-law Dorothy (Emil) Patterson and Pearl Carter; brothers-in-law, Robert Clay, E.D. (Willie Ann) Clay, Charles (Bobbie) Clay, Harry (Lora) Clay, and Johnny (Jessie) Clay; many other relatives and friends including special friends; Pastor Paul W. Garrett, Sr., Deacon Simon Donald, and Pastor William Crenshaw Sr.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Fred McDaniel and Otis Bell McDaniel; sisters, Earnastine McDaniel, Roxy Sanders, Lizzie Green, Anniest Marie Guest, and Cora Whittington; brothers, Fred Carter Jr., Louis McDaniel, Leon McDaniel, Will McDaniel, Eugene McDaniel, and Billie McDaniel; and parent-in-laws, Emmitt & Bernice Clay.