At a young age, Jerry Carter made a vow to never give his life to “the streets.”
But after a stint in the U.S. Army, the Leflore County High School football standout found himself feeling unfulfilled working as a correctional officer at the infamous Mississippi State Penitentiary, also known as Parchman Farm.
So when Carter got a call from an old friend about a career with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, he jumped at the opportunity to spend more time outdoors.
“The atmosphere, the environment, the freedom — it was really a breath of fresh air,” Carter said. “It was a weight off my shoulders.”
“During the eight hours you’re there, you’re confined,” he said of Parchman, where he spent nearly two years. “This job has been very rewarding, seeing nature, wildlife and all of God’s resources up close.”
Since beginning as a conservation officer assigned to Leflore County in 1988, Carter has worked his way up from lieutenant to captain to major to lieutenant colonel and beyond. In July, he became the first Black chief since the creation of the agency in 1932.
“Life in a uniform stuck with me,” Carter chuckled.
The 56-year-old Morgan City native credits legendary Leflore County football coach Marcellus Singleton as one mentor responsible for shaping his strong work ethic.
“He trained us using a military format — his cadence, his voice, his commands,” Carter said of Singleton, for whom the Tigers’ Itta Bena stadium is named. “You could say he was firm, but he was fair. He was one of my idols growing up. He always taught us that sports come second, education comes first.”
Now, part of Carter’s mission is to help at-risk youth find refuge in the outdoors and explore the state’s natural beauty.
“I want kids to see the outdoors, get away from the inner-city life and find that relaxation and comfort that nature can offer you,” Carter said. “Our youth need that exposure to get out there and see what it’s all about.”
When asked about his favorite scenic spots in Mississippi, Carter first mentioned the northeast region of the state around Tupelo, which he and his colleagues often call “God’s country.” He then listed Tishomingo State Park and, of course, the Mississippi River among his top picks.
Carter is constantly learning new things about the state where he has lived for nearly all of his life. One of the perks to traveling around the state for his work, he said, is observing how cultures differ from town to town, but that signature Southern hospitality remains the same.
As a kid, Carter would sneak into Mississippi Valley State football games to catch a glimpse of the Delta Devils. It was fitting, then, that he returned to his hometown school to earn his degree later in life after he watched his daughter, LaWanda, do the same. Looking back on his career, Carter considers completing his degree at MVSU one of his proudest accomplishments.
“If my daughter can do this, so can I,” Carter said. “She was a driving, motivating force for me finishing up my degree. She was very inspirational for me.”
- This article first appeared in Leflore Illustrated, a quarterly magazine published by The Greenwood Commonwealth.
