She is clothed with strength and dignity; And not afraid of the future.

She speaks with wisdom; And the teachings of kindness are on her tongue.

Psalm 31:25-26

Today we celebrate the life of Miriam Louise Tinsley Carter, 80, who departed this life on Friday, November 13, 2021, and is now in God's everlasting embrace.

Lou was one of thirteen children born to the late Corine Shelton and John Ellis Tinsley, in Hanover County, Virginia on June 27, 1941.  As a young child she was baptized at Providence Baptist Church in Ashland, Virginia and received her education in the public schools of Hanover County. She was united in marriage to Rev. Alonzo L. Carter, Sr. on September 17, 1961 until his death in 2013.  Together they raised four children.

Lou worked various electrification jobs throughout her life and retired from General Electric. For more than 15 years she served as First Lady of Ebenezer Baptist Church in Louisa County, Virginia while her husband pastored there.  During her life she comforted, aided and loved countless young people.  The children in her life always knew they could come to her with anything and be received.

A near-constant presence at St. Luke Baptist Church, she embodied a life of gracious acceptance bolstered by servitude and undying loyalty to all those she held dear.  Lou's greatest legacy is the way she showed her family to love in a deep, selfless, quiet and passionate way. She was a member of an unrivaled Prayer Warrior Team that believed in praying, praying, praying, giving and doing, while expecting nothing in return.

Proceeded in death by her stepson Alonzo Leslie Manokey, she leaves to cherish her beautiful spirit, her children, Alonzo Jr., Kevin Sr. (Modestine), Valerie, and Anthony (Stacy); her grandchildren, Ramone Boyd, Jillian Carter, Olivia Carter, Kevin Carter Jr., Faatima Winston, Monica Boyd, Myles Boyd, Alonzo Manokey, Makia Robinson and Chanere Smith (Edward); her godchildren, David Fields Jr., Linwood Moore, Kimberly Lee and Tiffany Ford Mason; ten great grandchildren; siblings, Alma "Tish" Winston,  Bethaniel "Betty "Johnson, Phyllis Mickens (Wayne, Sr.), George Tinsley (Debbie), and loving in-laws Giola Tinsley, Norman Carter, Sr., Mitchell Mines, a host of devoted cousins, nieces, nephews, loving friends and extended family.