My Mother, Amarintha
My mother, Amarintha, passed away earlier this month. She was the center of our universe, our glamour girl. She loved fireball candy, the color red, Walker, Texas Ranger, Shirley Caesar, and teaching children, something she did for 41 years. She taught me to read when I was two years old, because she knew that I was curious about the world, and she wanted me to have access to all of it (I probably asked her a ton of questions that only encyclopedias could answer 😉). I miss her dearly, but mostly I feel honored to be her daughter, her namesake, to have been loved and guided by her, and trusted by her to continue her legacy, something she has prepared me for my whole life. I still feel her with me, sending a slight breeze of White Diamonds perfume, asking me why I'm not wearing earrings, and reminding me that what is for me IS for me. Before she passed, I was able to share my screenplay, Oil of Hydrangea, with her, which is a love letter to the strength and resolve of my matrilineal line. She is at the heart of everything I create, everything that I am. She believed in me, fiercely, even when I doubted myself. Whenever there was a job that I didn't get, she wasn't worried. She knew what lay ahead for me. Her intuition was razor sharp. She never wavered in thinking that I was meant to be an artist. She pushed me to stand in my power and talent, to take the chances, make my own magic. She wanted me to live a life I was proud of. She was a great lady, and I wanted the opportunity to share a little of her with you. On my website, you will find her obituary that I was blessed to write with my sister. Thank you, Mommie, for loving me 💜
Amarintha B. Carter, also known as “Alma” to her family, was born Amarintha Bailey in Charleston, South Carolina, on April 11, 1952, to Christopher Bailey, Sr., and Arabelle Bailey. As a small child, she took a keen interest in reading and education, and she set her hopes high as she grew into adulthood. She proudly graduated from Baptist Hill/St. Andrews High School in 1971, and grew to become a highly accomplished woman, starting with being one of the first people in her family to attend college. She attended Friendship Junior College and Barbara Scotia College before graduating from Winthrop University. She was one of the first Black teachers to graduate from Winthrop with a degree in Education. This was followed by a Master’s Degree in Education from National-Louis University.
Amarintha met the love of her life, Alexander Carter of Chester, South Carolina, while in college, and they married on April 30, 1977. Amarintha took on the role of proud Army wife and began her illustrious forty-one-year career as an educator with the Department of Defense Dependents Schools in Germany, while supporting her husband's military career. Her first assignment was D Street Elementary School in Killeen, TX, before the Carters moved to Germany, where she served students at Patch Elementary School in Stuttgart, followed by a tenure at Wertheim and Wuerzburg Elementary Schools. Her last assignment was at Osan Elementary School in Osan, South Korea, where she created a large book drive to benefit students in the school district, collecting over 500 books that were written in both English and Hangul. She also volunteered for the Yearly Holiday Card Committee and coordinated over 15,000 cards that were given to American and South Korean military members on the Korean peninsula. She was dedicated to sharing her love of reading with her students, so much so that she was awarded Teacher of the Year twice. Her favorite quote that was posted in all of her classrooms was “All Feelings are Welcome, All Behaviors are Not”.
Amarintha volunteered for the Girl Scouts in Germany and South Korea for over 20 years. All three of her daughters served as Girl Scouts, two winning the Gold Award, and one winning the Silver Award. Her accolades are long - she was honored with a Candy Striper award from the 67th CSH Hospital, Citizen of the Year from the Phi Gamma Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., United States Forces Korea Scroll of Appreciation, presented by the US Army Commander. She was also a member of Phi Delta Kappa Fraternity and was an honorary Buffalo Soldier.
Amarintha was dedicated to service within the Masonic Order. She was the Past District Deputy Most Ancient Grand Matron within the Heroines of Jericho, Past Special District Deputy Grand Matron within the Order of the Eastern Star, Past State Grand Loyal Lady Herold within the Order of the Golden Circle, and Past Illustrious Commandress within the Daughters of Isis.
Her most proud and treasured achievement was her three daughters with her husband, Alexander: Emmy-Nominated Writer Alrinthea Faye, accomplished television Executive Producer Alleathea Elizabeth, and Artist Allexthea Idele. She was a very proud grandmother to twins, Claudia, a competitive swimmer, and Carter, an accomplished student of Karate and avid gamer. Her son-in-law, Eric Perkins, is a Music Educator and Trombonist.
Amarintha was known for her giving spirit, her advice, her dedication to making the world better, and her love of the color red. She was a world traveler, an expert seamstress, a cake decorator, and a collector of art and furnishings from around the world. She was a huge fan of Walker, Texas Ranger, Law & Order: SVU, In the Heat of the Night, Action movies, Westerns, and biblical films like The Robe, The Story of Ruth, The Ten Commandments, and the Greatest Story Ever Told. One of her favorites was Imitation of Life. She loved to listen to Aretha Franklin, Shirley Caesar, the Angel Gospel Choir, and the Rance Allen Group.
Amarintha departed this life for her Heavenly Reward on February 3, 2026. She is survived by her devoted husband, Alexander, and her daughters Alrinthea Carter, Alleathea Carter-Perkins (Eric), Allexthea Carter; her grandchildren Carter Bruce and Claudia Fayemarie Perkins; her sisters, Barbara Wright (Walter) and Arabelle Bailey, and a host of nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, godchildren, cousins, students, and friends.
Proverbs 31:31
Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
