She would talk to anyone who stopped to chat at UPMC Heritage Place, calling all the women "ma'am," but Flossie Carter never talked about the events she'd seen growing up in Alabama in the early years of the 20th century.
"She was close-mouthed," said her granddaughter, Dianne Carter, of Homewood. "She's seen it all."
Mrs. Carter, who died Sunday at the age of 111, must indeed have seen much in a lifetime that spanned two centuries and included segregation and the Great Depression. But Dianne Carter said that her grandmother, believed to be one of the oldest residents of Pittsburgh, left the storytelling to other relatives.
It was known, however, that the native of Opelika, Ala., worked for the federal Works Progress Administration, which helped provide employment after the Depression. Her jobs were cleaning buildings all over Birmingham, Ala., and planting flowers along area highways, Dianne Carter said.
Widowed in 1936, Mrs. Carter moved to Pittsburgh in 1954 to help raise her grandchildren. She never remarried.
When she moved north, she brought along a passion for baseball. A fan of the Birmingham Black Barons, she transferred her allegiance to the Pirates.
"She loved baseball. That was one of her favorite pastimes," said her daughter, Gurelene Carter, of Homewood, Dianne's mother. "She liked the players -- Willie Stargell, [Roberto] Clemente."
Although she never got to see the Pirates play in person, she never missed a game that was broadcast or telecast. "She would listen to it on the radio and have the TV on at the same time," Dianne Carter said.
Mrs. Carter also became a big Steelers fan. Dianne Carter said her grandmother "liked the big Steeler guys. She liked the linemen, liked to watch them play and hit." But Gurelene Carter said her mother's individual favorites were players from the early Super Bowl years: Joe Greene, Terry Bradshaw, Mel Blount and Jack Ham.
Along with sports, Mrs. Carter loved to cook. "She made the greatest pound cake. She made the greatest rice pudding," her granddaughter said.
At Heritage Place, where she lived the past seven years, she was not well enough to take part in regular activities, but activities director Christa Magness said planning her birthday parties was a highlight of the events schedule. Last year, the Pirate Parrot came to her party to help mark the supercentenarian's 110th birthday. Residents younger than Mrs. Carter were inspired by her, Ms. Magness said.
"She was the sweetest little woman I've ever seen. She was here longer than I have been, and she never had an unkind word to say to anyone," Ms. Magness added.
"She called everyone 'ma'am.' I'm 80 years younger than her, and she would say, 'yes, ma'am.' "
In addition to her daughter, Mrs. Carter is survived by a son, Carl Carter, of Middletown, R.I. Besides Dianne Carter, there are nine other grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and 21 great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. today at White Memorial Chapel of Point Breeze, 7204 Thomas Blvd., with a funeral ceremony to follow there immediately after. Burial will be in Homewood Cemetery.
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11294/1183741-122-0.stm#ixzz1cE8McdqS
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