Friends remember Campbell mainstay

Calvin Carter had a bet with many of his Leesville customers.

If he cut a block of hoop cheese too big or small compared to what was requested, the order was free. But if the piece was perfect, the customer had to pay double the price.

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Not many took him up on the offer because Carter, who had decades of experience, was usually spot on.

Carter was very particular about how the cheese was sliced at his store and meticulously taught his assistant Ralph Wood how to do the job almost as soon as he started work in 1983.

“I can hear him right now,” Wood said as he sliced two thin pieces for a customer. “He’ll be saying it’s too thick. It has to be cut real thin.”

Carter, a mainstay of Leesville and the southern end of Campbell County, died suddenly Monday. He was 83. He is survived by his wife Adelle; two sons, Chip Carter, of Richmond, and Lee Carter, of Altavista; and five grandchildren.

Many loyal customers dropped by Carter’s Store on Virginia 43 Tuesday to pay their respects and share stories of a man who was remembered as a quintessential southern gentleman and true public servant.

“A lot of people are going to miss him, I can tell you that,” his son, Lee, said.

Carter retired from his store in 2007 and handed the reins to Lee. However he was still a frequent presence, coming in to sit and chat with customers and friends as they dropped by for ham or bologna sandwiches and sodas. Wood remembered Carter was sitting in a yellow chair by the counter last week. He wasn’t feeling well that day, Wood said.

In addition to the Leesville landmark country store Carter owned, he served on the Campbell County Board of Supervisors for 28 years, the board of the Southside Electric Cooperative and the board of Old Dominion Electric Cooperative for several decades.

“He served Campbell County with the highest esteem for 28 years. He always liked to think he was a special supervisor for all people,” said Seneca District supervisor Hugh Rosser. “He took work seriously, yet he was able to make you feel like your business was his business.”

When Carter spoke during meetings, he commanded respect and attention from his peers and constituents. His soft-spoken voice and gentle laugh were a mainstay of Campbell County meetings. Carter retired from the board in December 2007 after deciding not to seek an eighth term.

One of his favorite things about serving his constituents was helping them “cross over the burden of cumbersome bureaucracy,” Carter said in a May 2007 interview. “It’s a really time-consuming job. I’ve enjoyed every doggone minute of it.”

Concord District Supervisor Eddie Gunter remembered how Carter supported his early political career.

“When I first came on the board, he took me under his wing and talked to me and showed me the ropes. I never forgot that,” said Gunter, who was first elected as supervisor in 1991.

“He was so easy to get along with, easy to talk to, always had compassion. I don’t think I ever saw him get upset,” Gunter said.

Carter especially cared about the people in the Altavista area, where he was born and the seat he represented on the board.

“He was always trying to look out for the town of Altavista and promote growth,” Gunter said. “He could also see the benefit of pushing the county forward. That’s why he and I always saw eye to eye.”

Carter treated everyone’s opinion and perspective equally and often found common ground to help solve problems, County Administrator David Laurrell said. “He was a very non-judgmental kind of guy who didn’t put himself above other people.”

Rosser had been on the board for almost 20 years when Carter was first elected. “He fell right in. It didn’t take him long to catch on to what the board was doing in the first year,” Rosser said. “He had the talent to make a decision on almost anything.”

In addition to his leadership skills, Carter was personable and took the time to make people from all walks of life feel their problems were important, Rosser said. “He could mix with anyone. He wasn’t above anyone or below anyone. He was just a good congenial person to mix with all walks of life.”

“Calvin was clearly one of the most honorable and respected public servants I’ve ever had the opportunity to work with,” Laurrel said.

“He will be sorely missed. He was a wonderful man, a great Board of Supervisors member and a good friend to a lot of people.”

Calvin Carter