Eleanor Travis Carter

Mrs. Eleanor Travis Carter of Boydton received her wings and joined her husband, mother, father and ancestors on December 4, 2019. She was 85. Mrs. Carter was born on September 18, 1934 to Samuel and Mendoza Travis in Brunswick County, on the Saponi Native Reservation. She graduated early from James Russell Soloman High School at age 15, and thereafter attended Virginia State University. Later she would transfer to Saint Paul’s College where she met and married the love of her life, Charles Carter of Boydton, in 1955. From their union came three children: Charles, Barry and Cheryl Carter. Throughout her life, Mrs. Carter was a devoted and loving mother and wife who put family first and prioritized education. She made sure that all three of her children graduated from college, with Charles graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University in 1977, Barry from Virginia State University in 1979 and Cheryl from The University of Virginia in 1985. A member and elder in the Occoneechee-Saponi Native Tribe of Virginia, Mrs. Carter worked for 32 years at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, better known as Virginia Tech. As part, she assisted her close friend and godmother, Delores Morse, of South Hill, in mentoring children, homemakers and farmers. Mrs. Carter was also active in electoral politics and the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. She had her children voluntarily integrate a white school in the ‘60s and ‘70s, where they were three of only four children of color in the entire school. Ever a fighter for justice, she was a courageous warrior who never backed down nor blinked in the face of racial inequity. For the past 25 years, many had missed seeing Mrs. Carter walking in her community due to a debilitating auto accident that left her in chronic pain. However, her legacy of an active life lives on through her children and grandchildren, many of whom feature prominently in politics, social justice, business and environmental advocacy. The seeds of love, peace and balance that she planted are growing strong in her family and through them she will continue to impact the world. Mrs. Carter is survived by her three children: Charles Jr., Barry (Metztli), and Cheryl; ten grandchildren with one on the way: Charles III, Kayla, Eric, Travis (Miriam), Jeremy, Chastidy (E.J.), Chelsea (David), Mahpiya, Ihza and Saponi; six great-grandchildren: Travis, Jr., Itzel, Meztli, David, Jr., Luna, and Scarlett; two sisters: Levella Lawson, Yvonne Kenner (Arthur); two brothers: Schuyler Travis and Ralph Johnson (Ann) and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Funeral services for Mrs. Eleanor Travis Carter will be conducted 2:00 P.M. Saturday, December 14, 2019 at Saint Paul Baptist Church, Boydton, VA. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church on Saturday from 1:00 P.M. until service time. Arrangements are by Giles-Harris Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Chase City, VA.