Published: September 23, 2021

Lillian “Polly” Harwell Carter, of Pulaski, Tennessee passed away peacefully on September 20, 2021. She was 97. Born in Prospect, Tennessee on December 13, 1923 to parents Thomas H. Harwell and Octa W. Harwell both native Tennesseans. In 1943 she married William Cowan Carter, a Pulaski Tennessee native who she dutifully supported throughout his distinguished 28 year career as an officer in the United States Army. In 1968 the couple retired from McLean, Virginia to a farm in Giles County where Polly routinely hosted memorable friends and family gatherings.
She was a longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church of Pulaski, a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and a founding member of the Giles County Historical Society. Polly was an avid genealogist conducting research not only on her own family, but helping many others with their research often through her volunteer work at the Giles County Library. Preceded in death by her husband Colonel William C. Carter (USA-Retired), her daughter Anne Ball and each of her three sisters. She is survived by her daughter Paige Garner (Sam), son-in-law Frank E. Ball, Jr., granddaughter, Jayne Ball and husband Mark Kilpatrick, grandson, Sergeant First Class Samuel B. Garner, III and his wife Morgan L. Garner as well as two great-grandchildren Hadley Garner and Jack Garner.
Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the First Presbyterian Church Pulaski (P.O. Box 174, Pulaski, TN 38478), the Giles County Historical Society (P.O. Box 693, Pulaski, TN 38478), or the American Cancer Society (P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123).