Willetta Carter

Willetta Carter was born April 23, 1925 in Kansas City, MO, the daughter of the late Thomas and Gertrude Wheeler Bibbs. The birth was assisted at home by a midwife with her siblings Olga, William (Little Will) and John in attendance.

Willetta's family moved to Des Moines, IA and shared a home with their Grandfather, William Wheeler.

Willetta completed school in Des Moines and was employed by Standard Oil Credit Card Center as a Remittance Clerk and later, Edit Control Supervisor. She was later employed as the Office Manager for the Iowa Afro Citizen Newspaper. Willetta completed a business course in Marketing at DMACC with the hope to open her own business.

Willetta was a member of the Philadelphia SDA Church where she served in the capacity of Church Clerk along side of her kind friend, Leona Lester.

As a young woman, Willetta met Walter Carter at a social event. They later eloped and were married in Missouri. Willetta gave birth to ten children and remained very active in their lives. She and Walter were members of bowling teams, and they traveled the country. Willetta also enjoyed making ceramics, collecting stamps and researching her genealogy and many other projects. She was an excellent cook and we will really miss her amazing chocolate cake, fudge, mac & cheese and huge chocolate chip cookies.

Willetta was a soft spoken, well organized, knowledgeable person. She found it important to instill biblical values into her children and share them with her family.

On the evening of January 25, 2014, Willetta passed from time into eternity. She was 88 years old. Preceding her in death were her husband, Walter Carter, Sr.; her infant son, William; her son, Walter Jr. and daughter, Adrienne.

Those still living who will cherish the memory of Willetta are her children, Sherine Carter Thomas Smith McFeders, Gertrude "Trudy" Cochran, Darrell (Joan) Carter, Olga (Darrell) Turley, Ivan Carter, Georgette (Terrill) Terrill, Kelly Carter and Kirk Carter, Sr.; her grandchildren, Vincent (Ronda) Thomas, Todd (Lisa) Smith, Anthony (Alice) Carter, Renita Allen, Aubrey Allen, Jamon Allen, Shawnette Cochran, Gene Cochran, Darron Cochran, Shantell (John) Joshua, Marshawn Carter, Darrell "T.J." (Linda) Turley, Corey Turley, Keith (Cheri) Terrill, Kirk "K.C. Carter, Jr., LaTina "Teen" Carter and Drayton "Dray" Carter; her siblings, Olga Hill and John Bibbs; her nieces Vicktoria Bibbs; great nieces, Bridgette Blunt-Partee', Billijo Williams, Bretta Williams-Moore; her cousins, Beverly Dickason, Calma Warrick, Calvin Warrick, Melvin Warrick, Ronald Scott, Lilene Moore, Alphonzo Knox Jr,, Verga Whitmore, Vera Scott, Theresa Spellman, Lila Elanora, Richard D, Catherine Ann, Paul Jean, Huge Brien, Craig Depriest, Malcolm Freeman III, Mark Freeman, John Duckett, Dawn Duckett, Madeline Powell and Lawrence Powell, 23 great grandchildren, nine great -great grandchildren, along with a host of extended family and friends.







Cemetery Details Glendale Cemetery 4901 University

Des Moines, IA, 50310