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You would have thought she had grown up smack dab in the middle of Advance.

But she wasn’t.

You would have thought that she had grown up knowing that the real LA – the one that matters most in this world – is thousands of miles from California.

But she didn’t.

What Linda Carter was, however, was Advance to the core.

Ms. Advance, the Mayor of Advance, the Queen of Advance, the Sheriff of Advance: all of these monikers fit Linda Carter perfectly.

The No. 1 supporter of the Davie community died last week at age 81. She may have been born in Mocksville, but she was Advance to the end. She changed Advance for the better. She changed those who ever crossed her path for the better.

Linda, forever the provider and protector for her family, started operating the little corner store in Advance, sometime in the late 80s or early 90s. It was a gathering spot, and with Linda inside, that was no wonder. Her personality attracted people of all types. Everyone was her friend.

Working in that little store for years meant that Linda, at one time or another, had met most people in Advance. In other words, she knew everything about everyone in Advance. The good, and the bad. But she always encouraged the good.

I was a regular listener of a morning radio program that featured Aunt Eloise, a DJ who often mentioned neighboring communities when talking about the goings on in the world. One day, she (Well, you decide on that one. She had a bosom like Dolly Parton, legs like Lorrie Morgan, a tush like Shania Twain, and a face like Willie Nelson) decided to poke fun, and it was fun, at Advance. A Christmas parade in Advance? Now that was a funny joke.

Linda Carter thought it was funny, too. She also thought, what would be funnier would be if Advance actually could pull off holding a Christmas parade. She helped organize it, and it was a hoot. Aunt Eloise even made an appearance, or that may have been an imposter. It was the most fun I’ve ever had at a Christmas parade; I thinked I laughed the entire time. It’s still a highlight of the season for all of Davie County.

But she didn’t stop there.

Knowing about the people in Advance, she also knew about the ones who were struggling: the ones having trouble making ends meet, and the ones who lived in isolation. It was Christmas. What do Christians do at Christmas? For one thing, they help their neighbors in need.

What Christmas is All About was born. It continues today, with volunteers going door to door spreading Christmas cheer when needed.

That’s the kind of woman Linda Carter was.

She cared about her bigger community, as well. She once ran for sheriff. It may have started as somewhat of a joke, but she was serious. And with her knowledge of people and ability to get along with just about all types, she would have made a good one.

She also loved this newspaper. Linda Carter sold more subscriptions than our circulation department ever thought of. Being at that little store, she also saw a lot of newcomers moving into Advance. She didn’t discourage them, all were welcome in her Advance world, but she encouraged every single one of them to subscribe to the Enterprise. That way, she told them, they would get to know Davie County a bit better. They could become one of us, not a foreign interloper.

Her love of this newspaper and of that Advance Christmas Parade meant that one year our publisher was invited to be the grand marshal. No need to come in a convertible or any kind of ride, she told him. The parade would provide the transportation. He arrived, and she had arranged for a jackass, or was it a donkey, for him to ride. I gained new respect for Dwight Sparks that day. He knew it might be fun for folks to watch the newspaper publisher riding on a jackass while spectators argued about which was which, if you know what I mean.

Even later, I got to know some of Linda Carter’s relatives. It was obvious that her love of Advance wasn’t the priority in her life. Her family was. They knew it, and they cherished it. They’ll always know it, and they’ll always cherish it.

On Sunday, Linda Carter was laid to rest in the Mocks Church Cemetery. In Advance.

Thank you, Linda Carter.

In her memory, do something positive for your community this week. It will make you and them feel better.

And for goodness sake, be happy. Life is too short to waste on putting other people down. Be positive. It worked for Linda Carter, and it can work for us, too.

– Mike Barnhardt