‘He worked hard and prayed harder’: KC doctor and community activist dies at 81
.jpeg "Dr. James Carter, a family doctor with a private practice that tended to hundreds of Black patients in the metro died Jan. 28 from Lewy Body Dementia. He was 81.")
Dr. James Carter grew up during a time when Black doctors were few and in high demand, particularly in the urban core of Kansas City. As young child he dreamed of becoming a doctor to help heal and care for the Black community.
His wife, Nina Carter, met him while she was studying at the University of Missouri-Columbia in the 1960s, where he was the only Black student in the medical program. He shared with her that maintaining faith was essential for him to succeed in such a challenging environment.
“He always said the lord helped him on every stage of life,” said his wife. “Especially during his time at MU and would say he worked hard and prayed harder.”
Carter, a family doctor with a private practice that tended to hundreds of patients in the metro died Jan. 28 from Lewy Body Dementia. He was 81.
Carter refused to let the challenges and obstacles he encountered in pursuing his lifelong dream to become a physician hold him back. He went on to become a prominent figure in the Kansas City urban core, not only as a doctor but also as a dedicated community leader.
His daughter, Christy Harris, says that while losing her father is difficult, she and her sister, Kimberly Tillman,
take solace in the decades of work he devoted to the community.
“He was a caring dad to me and my sister Kimberly,” said Harris. “He was a man of deep conviction, character and integrity.”
Carter, a native of Kansas City, graduated from Lincoln High School and always prioritized his community. His family believes that Carter treated his patients and the community like his own family, never turning his back on anyone, regardless of how successful he became.
His wife spent years observing him tirelessly work during tumultuous times to restore stability and order to the community. When The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968, rather than staying safely at home, Carter took to the streets, striving to calm the situation and help people regain their composure.
“There were riots here in Kansas City when King was shot and we thought people might destroy everything,” said Carter’s wife. “They were burning buildings and he had said I have to go back into the city and talk with them to calm them down.”
Carter lived his life with the same courage as he fought against systems of oppression that limited Black residents in Kansas City. He played a key role in organizing a protest at the local amusement park, Fairy Land. The park only allowed Black visitors one day a year, and according to Carter’s wife, he along with other community leaders, went to the park and refused to leave. His wife recalls that this peaceful protest ultimately led to her husband’s arrest, along with the others who participated.
“It was a peaceful demonstration but the park owner still called the cops and they had put them all in a wagon and took them to the police station where they were charged,” she said.
His daughter remembers how her father loved his community and was passionate about being of service. He instilled that in his daughters.
“It was incredible to grow up with him as my father because he was such a great man,” said Harris. “We would see how people talked to him and listened to him and we were really proud of him.”
As one of the few Black doctors in Kansas City after the Civil Rights era, Carter established a family practice that provided excellent care to local residents. In addition to his demanding work, he made time to mentor aspiring medical students, ensuring that he inspired and guided the next generation of Black doctors in Kansas City.
“I think those who knew him will remember him as someone that was always trying to help others no matter what,” said his wife. “No matter who he spoke to he was offering his words of faith that he would speak and encourage them and words of wisdom to inspire them.”
He is remembered by his wife, Nina Carter; children, Nina, Christy Harris and Kimberly Tillman; along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Other Remembrances
Terry Yancy
Terry Leron Yancy, United States Navy veteran and deputy sheriff, died Feb. 15. He was 45.
Yancy was born in Kansas City on June 23, 1980 to Pearline Yancy and John Conway.
He graduated from Westport High School in 1998 and received a bachelor’s degree in business management at the University of Phoenix.
Yancy joined The United States Navy and served for eight years. Upon returning home he became a deputy sheriff for Wyandotte County. He also worked as a juvenile probation officer for Jackson County Circuit Court.
He is remembered by his children, Aaliyah Yasmeen Smith, Naya Carmichael-McClain and Ty’Shine King-Love; mother, Pearline Arterbery; siblings Sydney Arterbery and James L Reed III; along with a host of cousins and friends.
Sharon Gill
Sharon Gill, mother and nurse, died March 3. She was 60.
Gill was born on July 21, 1964, in Kansas City, Missouri, to Wendell and Mitty Jones.
She graduated from Lincoln High School in 1982 where she participated in cheerleading and the track team.
Gill attended Lincoln University where she developed a love for the healthcare field. Gill was a registered nurse and worked at various hospitals.
She is remembered by her children, Jayde Tate, Jay L Gill II; parents, Wendell and Mitty Jones; along with a host of grandchildren, cousins and friends.
This story was originally published March 23, 2025 at 6:00 AM.
