Edward Kent Carter, M.D.

Edward Kent Carter, M.D., 84, of Kingsport and Naples, FL, died at 4:30 a.m. Sunday December 31, 2006 at Asbury Place Kingsport.

Dr. Carter was born on November 29, 1922, in Clinchport, VA to the late James Kelly Carter of Rye Cove, VA, and Maymie Johnson Carter of Harper?s Ferry, WV. His early years were spent in Clinchport and at age 8, the family moved to Gate City, VA, the county seat.

Dr. Carter attended Shoemaker High School and was active in athletics; lettering in football and baseball. He graduated in 1938 with honors and was a Boys State Representative. He attended Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, TN and Emory & Henry College in Emory, VA, and was accepted to Medical College of Virginia after his junior year.

He was elected to Who?s Who in American Colleges and Universities and graduated from the Medical College of Virginia in 1946 under the sponsorship of the U.S. Navy. He served his internship at Southern Baptist Hospital in New Orleans, LA. Following his internship, he reported to the U.S. Navy for active duty and was commissioned as a Lt. Junior Grade in the U.S. Naval Medical Corps.

He served at Bethesda U.S. Naval Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. He attended Photofluorscopic Graphic School and was assigned Commander of the Mobile Chest Unit for the area of central United States from Canada to Mexico, and Colorado to Mississippi.

After discharge from the Navy, Dr. Carter returned to the Medical College of Virginia and began his radiology residency. During the residency, Dr. Carter was appointed as a Fellow of the National Cancer Institute. At this time, he met and married Pamela Murphy of Damascus, VA, and she was his guiding light for 56 years.

Following completion of his residency, Dr. Carter joined the Department of Radiology at Duke University School of Medicine. He then joined Dr. Walter Hankins, Sr. and Dr. Walter Hankins, Jr., Dr. J.J. Range and Dr. Walter Schribner in private practice in Johnson City, TN. Dr. Carter and Dr. Schribner opened the radiology department at Holston Valley Community Hospital Wellmont in 1953.

Dr. Carter was active in medical and community affairs. He served the medical community as a leader in various positions, including Holston Valley Radiology Department Chairman for 15 years, Hospital Chief of Staff, President and Co-Founder of the East Tennessee Radiological Society with Dr. J.J. Range.

He was president of the Sullivan County Medical Society, President of the Tennessee Radiological Association, a member of the House of Delegates to the Tennessee Medical Association TMA, a member of the Board of Trustees of TMA, and served as President of the TMA in 1974-75. He was an active delegate for the American Medical Association. Dr. Carter was president of the Theta Kappa Phi Medical Fraternity. Late in his career, he was made a Fellow of the American College of Radiology.

He was a founding member of the State Volunteer Mutual Insurance Company SVMIC, a physician-owned and operated mutual insurance company that provides medical malpractice insurance to doctors in Tennessee and the surrounding states. He served on the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, the Underwriting Committee, the Loss Prevention Committee, and the Strategic Planning Committee. SVMIC remains one of the leaders in the medical malpractice insurance industry.

The Sullivan County Medical Society honored Dr. Carter by creating the Edward Kent Carter Service Award, which is give in instances where members of the society have made significant contributions to the medical profession.

He was a member of First Broad Street United Methodist Church and served on the Finance Committee. He was active with United Way, the American Cancer Society, and was a contributing member to the American Legion, Elks Lodge, Moose Lodge, and the Ridgefield?s County Club, serving two years as president.

In addition to his parents, Dr. Carter was preceded in death by his brother, Chester Harvey Carter, of Richmond, VA.

Surviving are his wife, Pamela Murphy Carter, of Kingsport; two sons, Preston Kelly Carter and wife, Rhonda, of Bristol, TN, and Duane Craighill Carter and wife, Kelly, of Chattanooga, TN; one daughter, Dudley Carter Breeding, and husband, Michael Patterson Breeding, of Johnson City, TN; six grandchildren, Landon Carter Breeding, Mackenzie Murphy Breeding, Wyatt Patterson Breeding, Cameron Kent Carter, Carson Craighill Carter, and Aidan Kelly Carter.

He will be remembered most as a friend of those who needed friends, a loving father, and a devoted family man.

The family will receive friends following the memorial service conducted Tuesday at 6 p.m. at First Broad Street United Methodist Church with Rev. Jack Weikel and Dr. J. Spurgeon McCartt officiating.

A family graveside service will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday at Holston View Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be given to First Broad Street United Methodist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 1346, Kingsport, TN 37662.