Amanda Maxine Carter

Amanda Maxine Carter

 “Meet me in the land of hopes and dreams (Springsteen).” Amanda Maxine Carter, age 69, left this life for new adventures on Saturday, August 11th.

A native of Columbia, she was the daughter of John Rex and Maxine Swartz Carter, granddaughter to Millard Clinton and Annie Lowthorp Carter, and Julius Backman and Hattie Ables Swartz.

She graduated from Brookland Cayce High School in 1968, and was a University of South Carolina graduate of 1972, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education.

In 1982, she moved to Washington, D.C. and after graduating from Antioch School of Law, worked as a paralegal for Howrey and Simon law firm until 1996 when she moved back to the Carolinas. She then worked for the Richland County Library for seventeen years, until her retirement in 2017.

In addition to her professional talents, Amanda was an avid reader and could talk insightfully and forcefully on many social and political issues. She was also a loyal and selfless friend to many, and the adhesive that held her and her siblings together after the deaths of their parents. She loved travel, movies, and the visual arts and was a talented and expressive writer, but the passion closest to her heart was always music.  Coming of age in the tumultuous 1960s and early 1970s, she was a devotee of the music of that era, especially the Beatles.  Everyone who knew her was enthralled with her amazing singing voice.  She entertained in many venues, with a special fondness for Friday night karaoke where she riveted audiences with her renditions of Patsy Cline and Janis Joplin, among many other artists.

She is survived by her siblings: John Carter (Joan) of West Columbia, Phyllis Frick (Kenneth) of Landrum, and Kayelynne Wyatt (Terry) of Surf City, North Carolina. She is also survived by nieces and nephews Clinton Avery Carter (Nan), Allen Chad Wyatt (Megan), Jeremy Caleb Wyatt (Kat), and Brandi Amanda-Laine Mason (Steven), Hannah Hinson, and Nathan Frick, as well as great nieces and nephews Wells Carter, Camp Carter, Asher Wyatt, Remy Wyatt, Noah Hoff, Noah Hinson, and Baby Girl Mason (due in September), She is also survived by her feline fur-babies, Alice and Kali, who will now reside with their human aunt, Kayelynne Wyatt.  She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents; her unofficial adopted brother, Norman David Durham; one great-niece, Lillian-Grace Hoff; and her feline fur-baby, Mrs. Kisses.

Amanda had many dear and loving friends, and special appreciation goes to Marnie Jackson and Kelly Kincannon who not only gave love to Amanda, but physically cared for her in her final weeks; to Michele Patterson for the gift of encouraging Amanda to exercise her musical abilities; to Carol Wyatt Yarborough, who not only gave Amanda support, but also the family, and to friends John Martin, Frank Joerg and Jim Fletcher whose visits or phone calls brightened Amanda’s final days.  Great appreciation also goes to the staff of National Healthcare Lexington, most notably Angie, Angel, Ryan, Courtney, Veronica, and Omelia for their loving care of Amanda.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Richland Library Friends and Foundation (1431 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29201) Columbia SC Humane Society; St. Jude Children’s Hospital (https://donate3.cancer.org) or to any cancer research group of your choice.

Barr-Price Funeral Home and Cremation of Lexington, SC is in charge of the arrangements.  As per Amanda’s wishes, a memorial picnic and Celebration of Life will be held at a later date to include Amanda’s family and friends.

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