July 29

 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO...

Johnny Cleo Carter 1942-1993

Johnny Cleo Carter was the son of  Elmer Cleo Carter and Lorene Smith Carter.

Elmer Cleo Carter was the son of John Martin Carter and Amy Tamsett Carter

John Martin Carter was the son of Ned Jonas Carter and Nancy Jane Evans

That's as far back as our Carter family history has been traced.

Johnny Cleo Carter married Barbara Cortney. I don't have any photos of her, and don't know anything at all about her. (Can't help but wonder, though, if she is the person Johnny's head is leaning against that was cut out of the photo of him above. It's the only picture I have of him.)

John and Barbara had three children:

Venetta Lynn, born 1967

Darla Fay, born 1968

Johnny Lee, born 1970

Darla Fay Carter died the day after she was born. The only thing I know about the other children is this, from Glynda Fay Carter Tucker --

"Johnny Cleo Carter's children were adopted by relatives. Johnny Lee was adopted by Johnny's sister Edna and Darrel Foster. Venetta Lynn was adopted by grandmother Lorene Carter Brewer."

I have no idea why those children were adopted out to family members. 

Johnny Cleo Carter died in 1993 at age 50, and is buried in Pine Grove Cemetery in Floral, Arkansas, with most of our other relatives from the Carter/Arnold branch of the family tree.