Neil Carter

Robert “Neil” Carter, affectionately known to most as “Ding Ding,” 76, of Seneca, South Carolina, passed away on September 24, 2025. He was born September 10, 1949, in Western North Carolina, to the late Robert Wayne Carter and Annie Louise (Buckner) Carter. 

Neil was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved sister Sonya Bentley, and brothers-in-law Bob Bentley and Terry Herren. 

He is survived by his children, Michelle Carter Sullins (Gerald) and Anthony Wayne Carter (Holly); granddaughters, Christina Sullins Robinson (Justin), Carter Sullins Payne (Kyle), Camden Carter, and Neely Carter Huitt (Dijoun); grandson, Nate Sullins (Maura); and great-grandchildren, Hudson, Lincoln, Ophelia, and Vaeda Robinson; River and Emmerson Payne; Boston and Evie Simpson; Monroe and Merritt Huitt; and Declan, Harper, and Gavin Sullins. 

Neil was a proud 1967 graduate of Enka High School. As a newly married young man building his family, he loved his job at Biltmore Dairy Farms, where he formed lasting friendships and fond memories. From a young age, he also felt a calling to serve and protect others, which led him into a distinguished career in law enforcement and security. He began with the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, where he was proud to wear the uniform and safeguard the people of his state. Driven by an unshakable sense of duty, he later founded Carter Investigations and Security, putting his experience to work helping others find truth and protection. He went on to continue his service as a federal court security officer with the U.S. Marshals Service, ensuring the safety of our courts and upholding the integrity of the justice system he so deeply respected. 

Neil’s work was more than a job—it was a lifelong passion. He believed in fairness, accountability, and doing what was right, and he carried those values into every part of his life. He was also the inspiration behind the name of his daughter’s business, “Plain Talk Properties,” a reflection of the honesty and straightforwardness he was known for. 

Outside of his career, Neil loved being with his family most of all. He enjoyed fishing, tending to his yard and landscaping, and cheering on Clemson football, Tennessee football, and Carolina Tar Heel basketball.

 Neil’s life was defined by devotion—to his family, his profession, and his unwavering belief in justice. His legacy will live on through his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and the countless lives he touched through both his personal relationships and his years of service.

 A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on November 1, 2025, at Trinity of Fairview.