By Carley Wiggins
On Monday July 13, a portion of 24th Avenue in the city of Dillon was renamed in honor of one of Dillon’s most deserving citizens. On a hot and sticky July morning, a large contingent of family, friends, former students, and fellow church members, and local and state political leaders gathered to pay homage to a very special lady that this writer has grown to respect. Mrs. Ruby Carter was having a road named in her honor.
The portion of 24th Avenue from Calhoun Street to Dargan Street has been named Ruby Woods Carter Road. The program began at 10:00 a.m. with the ceremonies being opened by Rev. Barry McFadden, Mrs. Carter’s pastor from St. Stephens United Methodist Church. He made a few remarks about Mrs. Carter and opened the meeting with prayer. The Rev. Delen McRae then explained just how this honor came to be.
State Senator Kent Williams made a moving speech about Mrs. Carter telling of some of her accomplishments as an educator in the Dillon School System. State Representative Jackie Hayes called Judge Dolphus Carter, Mrs. Carter’s husband forward to talk about what both of them had meant to the city and county of Dillon over the years with both of them in the school system and his service as an active judge.
He then presented a resolution from the state to Mrs. Carter telling of her service as a teacher, coach and guidance counselor for some 42 years in the Dillon School System and further the renaming of the street to RUBY WOODS CARTER ROAD. At that point the unveiling of the sign was done by the Carter Family for all to see. Afterwards, a reception was held at Brandi’s Banquet Hall, and everyone was invited.
As I watched the proceedings and listened to the speakers as they talked about this lady who has devoted her life to helping the youth that she had counseled over the years to seek a better life, I must admit I had a lump in my throat thinking where some of the lives she touched might be if it had not been for her concern to see them use the talents they possessed. It was so heartwarming to see her finally receive some of the accolades she so richly deserved. Ruby Carter is indeed an exceptional person.
I wrote an article about Mrs. Carter back in February of 2011, and I think that is when I really got to know her and the things she stood for. I am not going to try and write the article again, but for some who have missed it, I would like to go back and touch on some of the things that brought her to this area and some of the people she has helped along the way.
Ruby Woods was born in Allendale County on June 25, 1928. She is the only living child of 10 children. She did not come from wealth; as a matter of fact, her family were sharecroppers. As a small child during the Great Depression, she dreamed of a better life. This was a time when there was not a lot of hope for a poor African-American girl in the Deep South. Ruby attended the Allendale training School which was six miles from her home. For 11 years, she walked to school. She didn’t ride a school bus until she was an adult. She graduated high school and that was not an easy task in those days.
Ruby knew she would need more than a high school diploma to achieve what she needed, so she enrolled at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia. She succeeded in receiving a degree from Spelman to teach school, which was her life’s ambition. In 1949, Ruby Woods wound up in Dillon County with a job to teach fourth grade at the Dillon Colored School (better known as Maple school). The principal, H.L. Perry, was her brother-in-law so at least she had family in Dillon.
There was also a young man from Allendale County named Dolphus Carter who joined the U.S. 82nd Airborne right out of High School. The two began to date in 1950. In 1952, Ruby Woods became Mrs. Dolphus Carter, a marriage that has lasted some 60 years. Mrs. Carter continued to teach fourth grade while Mr. Carter was in the service. Their children are Jane Carter Crawford, Stanley Carter, Rene Carter and the late Dolphus Carter, III.
When he finished his tour of duty, he enrolled at Claflin College. He would also become a teacher and later a principal. In the meantime, Mrs. Carter became re-certified and moved to Gordon High School. She taught Psychology, Sociology, and History. She also coached basketball for which she was not paid. It was while she was at Gordon that she received her real calling in life. She became a guidance counselor and for many years to come, she became an advisor to many students who found a better way of life through her help.
To mention just a few who benefited from Mrs. Carter’s leadership and became successful in life, there was Dr. Kenneth Manning, Bishop Michael Goings, Dr. Carnell Cooper, Dr. Jimmy Jones, Professor John Roberts, Dr. Charles Bethea, Ron McRae and Col. Bobby Grice, Jr. and many more. Mrs. Carter remained at Gordon until integration became mandatory.
She then moved to J.V. Martin Junior High School where she remained until her retirement in 1994. She gave over forty years of her life to guiding young people down the right road.
In the year 2010, for some reason I still don’t quite understand, I was named Dillon County Citizen of the year for which I am very grateful. I think I was just as proud to present that same award to Mrs. Ruby Carter in 2011. Mr. Carter retired from the school system in 1990, but still serves as a municipal judge.
The Carters remain faithful to their church, St. Stephens United Methodist Church, as well as other civic affairs.
