Jane Carter

Jane Drinkwater Carter, 77, went to be with the Lord on December 12, 2025 at Grace Village Assisted Living in Granite Falls, North Carolina, after a period of declining health. Her husband of 36 years, Bill Carter, was by her side holding her hand.

Jane was born in Bangor, Maine on September 19, 1948 to Herbert and Evelyn (Reed) Drinkwater.

Jane married William "Bill" Carter on March 4, 1989 in Bangor, Maine. They moved to Key West, Florida where Bill was stationed in the Navy and then to Lisbon Falls, Maine. They have lived in Lenoir, North Carolina for almost 20 years. They were members of the First Baptist Church of Lenoir and enjoyed their church family very much. Jane worked at the Bangor Savings Bank for many years while her sons were young. She worked at the Key West Bank years later. In the most recent years, Jane and Bill resided at Grace Village Assisted Living in Granite Falls, North Carolina. Jane enjoyed her family, visits to the coast, eating Maine lobster, and in her younger years, she loved roller skating.

She is survived by her husband, Bill Carter, son Stephen VanPeursem (Renae), granddaughter Cierra Jane (Joe), her great granddaughter, Violet, and to include the longtime fiancé of her deceased son Billy, Michelle Hogan. She is also survived by her beloved niece, Kathryn Page (Dennis) and their family, niece Dianne Drinkwater, nephew Michael Drinkwater (Bonnie) and their family, niece Lynn Drinkwater Wright (Dick), her spouse's daughters, Rienie Newlan (Vince) and Helen Stanley, his granddaughters, Natalie Cooper (David) and Amanda Stanley, and his great-grandchildren, Lucas Gonzalez, Blaire Cooper, and Eleanor Cooper. She considered Bill's daughters, granddaughters, and great-grandchildren as her own.

Jane is preceded in death by her parents, Herbert and Evelyn Drinkwater, brother Richard Drinkwater and his wife, Gloria Jean, sister Elizabeth Drinkwater Shippa and her husband, Eugene, brother, Russell Drinkwater and his wife, Althea, sister Phyllis Drinkwater and her husband, Urban Lord. She was also preceded in death by her beloved son, William "Billy" George VanPeursem, on April 23, 2025. Billy was a long-time firefighter in Bangor, Maine.

Jane was so very proud of her sons and loved them dearly.

Her family would like to thank her wonderful Grace Village caregivers and friends, social workers at the Caldwell County Department of Social Services, and Carolina Caring Hospice. Her family would also like to thank her friend, Penny Hamby for the love she showed to Jane and Bill and the time she dedicated to them. She did so much for Jane and is greatly appreciated by the family.

Funeral services will be on Friday, January 9, 2026 at First Baptist Church in Lenoir, North Carolina at 11:00 am, with visitation one hour prior at 10:00 am. Burial will follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Park Cemetery.

In leu of flowers, donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Lenoir in memory of Jane.

Evans Funeral Service is honored to serve the family of Jane Carter.