Sisters, 99 and 88, die a day apart

HAVELOCK — Sisters Hattie Carter Becton and Mattie Genora Carter grew up together in Eastern Craven County and then pursued their own careers and lives.

Both came back to the Harlowe community in retirement, and this week, both died, just one day apart.

A joint funeral is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday at Piney Grove AME Zion Church.

“That’s never happened like that down here,” said Hazel Carter, 96, a cousin to the two sisters. “I’ve never seen two funerals at once on the same day. And sisters, too. Never heard of that before. I hope to be there.”

Hattie Carter Becton, 88, died Monday and Mattie Genora Carter, 99, died Tuesday. The sisters lived together with their older sister, Hester Carter Belton, who is 101 years old.

“It’s sad to lose your friends and cousins, two at a time. Yes, I don’t feel good about it,” Hazel Carter said. “We were real close together. We went to the same school and everything. When we grew up, they moved away. I had a sick mother so I stayed home.”

Mattie Genora Carter later graduated from New York City High School and attended Columbia University. According to her obituary, Carter earned degrees from Los Angeles College and from UCLA. She was a clerk for the U.S. Army and Air Force and was a teacher for the Los Angeles school system.

Hattie Carter Becton graduated from West Street High School, later received a bachelor of science degree from Elizabeth City State Teacher’s College and a master’s from Columbia University, according to her obituary. She retired as the principal of Martin Luther King School in Yonkers, N.Y.

“Hattie moved down here and built this house four years ago. Mattie moved in last month because her health was failing her. Mrs. Belton has been here more than 12 years ago,” said Shelley Harkley, who has been Hester Belton’s caregiver for the last dozen years.

Hazel Carter said she was surprised to learn of the deaths of the two sisters, even though she knew their health wasn’t the best.

“Three sisters living together, all of them were not really well,” she said. “They weren’t helpless but they were sick. My daughter would go over there every day and stay with them.”

The Rev. Robert Little, pastor of Piney Grove AME Zion Church, will be officiating Sunday’s funeral.

“It’s going to be very sad because this is two sisters going home together. A day apart,” he said.

The sisters’ caskets will likely be end-to-end for the service, a rarity.

“I can’t remember it ever happening. I’ve been here all my life,” said Alma Ellis, a friend of the sisters.

“I knew Mattie more than I knew Hattie because she was away longer,” Ellis said. “We called and talked to each other a lot about things happening in the community. She always told me about her brothers and sisters that were away.”

Little said he expected a large crowd for the service, not only to show respect for the two sisters but also to show respect to the family.

“There will be many, many people there who knew the family but didn’t have an intimate relationship with the sisters,” he said.

Little said both sisters lived long lives and contributed to their communities.

“Both were in the school system so they have touched many, many lives. We will never know how many,” Little said. “They did serve their brothers and sisters and humanity, and that is where the jubilation will be coming from.”

Hazel Carter said neither of the sisters had children of their own. She said they came from a big family. Their parents, William Henry Carter and Josephine Dove Carter, had five sons and six daughters.

Besides their older sister Hester, Mattie and Hattie are survived by their younger sister Arnell Carter, who is 87 and lives in New York. Two brothers, Sylvester Carter of Yonkers, N.Y., and Cleveland Carter of Havelock also survive.

Viewing will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at Oscar’s Mortuary in New Bern.

Following services Sunday, Mattie will be buried at the Piney Grove church cemetery and Hattie will be buried at the George Family Cemetery.