Obituaries

Lieutenant Commander Ann Esther Carter

Ann Esther Carter, Lt. Cmdr, US Navy, Retired, went to be with her maker on October 25, 2023. She died peacefully under the care of hospice nurses at the Petersburg Home for Ladies, just three days shy of her 95 th birthday. She was born in North Garden, VA on October 28, 1928 to Ruth Hudson Carter and Albert Harrison Carter, Sr.; both predeceased. She is also predeceased by her sister, Bruce Elaine Carter Creamer and her brother, Albert Harrison Carter, Jr. She is survived by her nephew, Gary Creamer and his wife Debbe of Bracey, VA along with their children, Holly Creamer Jenkins, Michelle Creamer Hente (Matt) and Michael Creamer (Whitney). She is also survived by her niece, Pamela Creamer Waterman and her husband, Todd and their children, Jacob and Eric. Ann lived a full and adventurous life unlike most women of her day. She never married but would have, if the right man had come along. She was valedictorian of her class at Red Hill High School near Charlottesville, VA. Ann’s family was of very modest means but that did not keep her from going to college by paying her own way, working in the dining hall. She went on to graduate from James Madison Teacher’s College, now JMU, with her teacher’s certificate. However, teaching was not for Ann and with the encouragement of her uncle, she joined the Navy, completed Officer’s Candidate School and was commissioned an Ensign. Her first duty assignment took her all the way across the USA to the Naval Base near Seattle, WA. She eventually worked her way back to Washington, DC and the Pentagon where she served as a Congressional Liaison Officer. Her duties there required her to attend Congressional sessions and hearings and make notes of anything which concerned the US Navy and report her findings back to the Pentagon. Her time in the Navy afforded Ann many opportunities to travel the world. She especially loved France and spent time in Paris where she took advanced training in voice and opera and became an outstanding soprano. She performed in many semi-professional productions including the lead in “The Marriage of Figaro” by Mozart. After Ann retired from the Navy she stayed in the Pentagon, working for the Department of Defense as a civilian where she used her training in education to produce training materials for Navy personnel. Ann Carter was a feminist before there ever was such a moniker and she was a lifelong Registered Democrat. Ann credited her Grandmother Carter with her many accomplishments, who, in 1946, encouraged her with the audacious advice, “Ann, don’t worry about getting married right away. Go out into the world and see what you can do!” And she did just that! Memorial contributions in memory of Ann Esther Carter, Lt. Cmdr, US Navy Retired, may be made to The Girl Scouts of the USA and to the JMU College of Education. A graveside service will be held at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery with full United States Navy Military Honors. Online condolences may be made through our website, www.crowderhitecrews.com. Crowder-Hite-Crews Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Carter family.