In Houston, Texas this past weekend (April 16-17), thousands turned out for the memorial service and the celebration of life for Lenora “Doll” Carter, CEO/publisher of the Houston Forward Times.
According to reports, Carter, 69, died of an apparent heart attack in her home Saturday, April 10.
Carter served as treasurer of the board of directors for the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and was a former NNPA Publisher of the Year.
Black publishers from around the nation joined her family and friends in celebrating her legacy at her church, Holman Street Baptist Church in Houston. The Mississippi Link Publisher Jackie Hampton was among those who traveled to Texas for the services.
Hampton said, like her NNPA colleagues, she was deeply shocked and saddened over the news of Carter’s sudden departure, but said her spirits were immensely lifted upon witnessing the love and respect expressed during Carter’s homegoing.
She was revered as a community icon. “As spoken and musical tributes were given during the memorial service, people from all walks of life filed in to say their final good-bys at the open casket two-hour service,” said Hampton.
Sheila Jackson Lee, U.S. House of Representative, said with strong emotion, “Doll, you left us too soon.” She also stated how valuable Carter’s life was, having never missed publishing one issue of the Houston Forward Times newspaper in its 50-year history. Lee, in addition to presenting a flag to the family from the White House, shared a letter of condolence signed by President Barack Obama.
In an earlier article by NNPA Editor-in-Chief Hazel Trice Edney, NNPA President Danny Bakewell Sr. described Carter’s death as one of “the NNPA and the entire Black Newspaper Publishing world’s greatest loss.”
Local NAACP President Carolyn Scantlebury noted that Carter, through her newspaper, kept the images of the community alive and that service had earned her numerous deserving awards.
Speaking of awards, Carter received the NAACP Mickey Leland Humanitarian Award, Black Women in Journalism for Outstanding Accomplishment and Achievement in the Communication Industry (Pioneer Award), the NAACP Image Award, the Toombs-Brown Award from Professional Black Women’s Enterprise, Inc., the “Pace Setter” Award from Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Gamma Phi Sigma Chapter, the 2002 National Council of Negro Women Pacesetters Award, Houston Medical Forum Recognition Award, Robert S. Abbott Award, Anheuser Busch W.I.S.E. Award for Outstanding Achievement as Publisher & Community Leader; Ethel Ransom Art and Literary Outstanding Leadership, National Association of Media Women, United Fund Outstanding Achievement in Media, Beaumont Chamber of Commerce, Houston League of Business and Professional Women in Achievements, Eta Phi Beta Outstanding Leadership, St. Joseph Volunteer Service Award, Texas State Teachers Association Dedicated Service Award, San Jacinto Girl Scout Merit Award, TSU Tennis Club Leadership Award, as well as South Post Oak Little League Outstanding Sponsorship, and the list goes on.
Councilwoman Wanda Adams said that Carter’s “well-lived” life was a time of completeness and now it’s a time of new beginnings with Christ.
Houston’s newly-elected Mayor Annise Parker stated that Carter’s time on earth was but a blimp of an eye in God’s time, yet she was able to successfully master a business, give to the community, and rear her children as a single mother after the passing of her husband.
Francis Paige, publisher of the Houston Style magazine stated that if it were not for Doll Carter, he would not have a business today. Paige, who succeeded his father as publisher after his death nine years ago, said Carter told his father that there was enough business for both publications to succeed.
John B. Smith, past chairman of the NNPA, spoke of the deep respect he had for Carter. He said she was a good friend whom God must have chosen as an angel.
Dorothy Leavell, NNPA Foundation chair, spoke of the close friendship she and Carter shared for the past 40 years and it is their competitive conversations regarding the achievements of their grandchildren she will miss.
Hampton shared her memories of her colleague. She said Carter was a friend whom she became more closely acquainted as a result of them serving together on the NNPA Board of Directors.
Hampton said while sitting next to her at the March 15, 2010 Newsmaker of the Year Awards Gala in Washington, D.C. she realized through their conversation that Carter was very devoted to family. “I knew that she took her responsibility as national treasurer of NNPA very serious, and that she took great pride in how she handled her fiscal responsibility of the organization’s funds,” Hampton said. She said she will truly miss “Doll” Carter.
Carter, a Corrigan, Texas native is survived by husband, James McDaniel; two daughters, Constance Yvette Carter and Karen Yvonne Carter Richards; and three grandchildren, Jesse, Chelsea, and Nykayla.
Be the first to comment