Isaac Carter Sr., a former Suffolk County deputy sheriff who lived on Springs-Fireplace Road in East Hampton, died of cardiac arrest at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital on May 7. Mr. Carter, who had been ill for three years, was 81.
Known as Ike, he enjoyed fishing, singing, playing the guitar, and traveling, his family said, and he was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend. Many looked up to him, owing to his caring and loving nature, they said.
He was the first African-American sheriff in the county, serving from 1965 until his retirement in 1994. “We send our deepest condolences to the family and friends of retired Deputy Sheriff Isaac Carter,” the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office wrote on its Facebook page last month.
Born on April 9, 1939, in Beaufort, N.C., to Iceola and Leola Carter, he grew up in nearby Havelock. He graduated from Queen Street High School in Beaufort.
Mr. Carter met the former Frances Williams at Queen Street High School. A majorette, cheerleader, and homecoming queen who was called Frankie, she and Mr. Carter were married for 60 years, moving from North Carolina to East Hampton to start their lives together and build a foundation for their children, their family wrote. Mrs. Carter died in January.
Mr. and Mrs. Carter raised their children in East Hampton. They are Dawn Letitia Carter of New London, Conn., Isaac Carter Jr. of Chesterfield, Va., and Brian Carter of East Hampton.
Mr. Carter sang with the male chorus and as a soloist at Calvary Baptist Church in East Hampton. A funeral was held there on May 21, followed by burial at Cedar Lawn Cemetery in East Hampton.
In addition to his children, Mr. Carter is survived by six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. A sister, Nellie Carter, and brothers Isaiah Carter and Carl Carter also survive, as do many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
