HARRELL C.
CARTER, JR.
JACKSON-MADISON COUNTY BRANCH PRESIDENT
Harrell Carter, Jr. is a native of Jackson-Madison County. He attended the local public school and is a graduate of Merry High School and Jackson State Community College (Political Science Major). He also attended West Tennessee Business College, Lane College and the University of Washington in Seattle.
He is a Vietnam era veteran, serving with the Third Armory Division in Europe and a graduate of The University of Tennessee Institute of Public Policy.
Mr. Carter joined the Jackson Police Department where he obtained the rank of Sergeant and Deputy Commander of the than newly formed Jackson-Madison County Metro Narcotics Division. He graduated from both the Tennessee Law Enforcement Training Academy and the Washington State Law Enforcement Training Academy.
He has served as Director of the Tennessee Hunger Coalition, (a statewide coalition to defeat hunger) and Coordinator of JONAH (a local non-profit organization). His work experience also includes contract work with Boeing Aircraft Manufacturers, The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the United States Air Force, and SGS Thompson in Grenoble, France a leader in world communication technology.
In 2006, Mr. Carter was elected as President of the Jackson Madison County Branch NAACP. He was re-elected by the local NAACP membership for seven additional terms as Branch President, including 2020. Under his leadership, the local branch was able to rent an office in downtown Jackson located at 118 N Church to host meetings and advocacy events. He currently serves as President of the Jackson-Madison County NAACP Branch and one of two the Area Directors-West Tennessee for the TN State Conference NAACP.
Mr. Carter has served in other leadership positions on numerous community boards including the Jackson-Madison County Boys and Girls Club, Jackson Area Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependency, Women Resource and Rape Assistant, the United Way of West Tennessee, the Jackson Mid-Town Optimist Club, the Jackson-Madison County Library Foundation and coordinated the Madison County Imagination Library through the efforts of Dolly Parton’s “Dollywood Foundation” and Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen’s “Governor’s Books From Birth Foundation.”
He has received local, regional and state awards including numerous community service recognitions. In 2012, he was awarded the Charles L. White, Jr. Leadership award by the TN State NAACP. Under his leadership, the local branch also received several Branch Advocacy awards from the TN State NAACP.
He is also a graduate of Leadership Jackson, Class 2004. He served as a member of the Tennessee Legislative Black Caucus Criminal Justice Panel and was elected for two (2) four year terms to the Madison County Commission. He is the former host of “Carter and Company” a late night talk radio show and served as the Public Affairs Director at WNWS NewsTalk 101.5FM.
He has been blessed to be the father of four, all adults (two fabulous daughters, Kenya and Kimica, two fantastic sons, Max and Chase) and four precious grandchildren.