Mark V. Carter Jr.

We honor and celebrate the Inspiring Life of PASTOR MARK V. CARTER JR. Mark will be cherished and remembered through the legacy of his family and friends.

MARK'S SONG

Mark Vacheral Carter Jr., the eldest son of Mark Vacheral Carter Sr. and his wife, Alice Massey Carter, was born on December 5, 1958, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mark Sr.’s Air Force career moved the family around the country for several years before they settled at Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, Nevada. Raised in a Christian home, Mark Jr. inherited his love for music and music ministry from his mother and father and he began playing the guitar at the age of 10 years old. God developed Mark’s special love and gift for music as he grew. He started to write his own songs and formed his first band while still in junior high school. Mark graduated from Rancho High School in 1977. During his school years, you could find him singing in school choirs, among the fastest athletes on the Rancho High School track team, playing tennis, and becoming an avid skier. He was also a fine artist and painter. With music in his heart and with God’s call on his life, Mark accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior at St. John Church of God in Christ. As his music evolved at St. John, he and his bandmates held auditions for a female lead singer. One of those candidates, a beautiful singer with an angelic voice named Melody, was selected. It was evident from the onset that Melody would soon be more than the newest member of the band.

Mark began to fellowship with Melody’s friends, a large collection of young people who loved the Lord and went by the moniker ‘Fish City’. This was a new era of musical influence. There were acoustic guitars everywhere. This was something Mark truly loved, and it enhanced his song writing. It was also a time when many life-long friendships would be created. It didn’t take long for Mark and Melody’s special friendship to blossom and the bond that the Lord created between them turned into a proposal and a marriage that spanned 43 years. Their union has been filled with music, ministry, and love. In good times and bad, Mark and Melody never wavered from each other’s side. They were made for each other. Although the Lord gathered up their first children, Steven and Terri to heaven, the Lord also, in His kind mercy, soon sent an angel, given the beloved family name, Vacheral, into their lives. And if that wasn’t enough, the Lord, with great compassion, sent a son, Nathan, to soothe their souls. The young family prospered and grew.

Mark had a vision of being an envoy for the Lord and with this in mind the Envoy Sings ministry was born. Through this musical ministry, Mark and Melody reached the world, with the production of their debut album (Pray for Fire). They also wrote two children’s books, Why We Celebrate Easter Day and Why We Celebrate Christmas Day, each complete with an original song CD and featuring Mark as the illustrator on Why We Celebrate Christmas Day. Additionally, they wrote short stories together and appeared as guest artists on Annie Meadows’ album (Send Me, I will Go).

Mark was very proud to see his children learn to love the Lord just as he and Melody did and to see them succeed in life. The family worked together on worship teams, participated in mission trips and spread the Gospel of Christ through street witnessing, volunteering, and even sheltering those in need in their own home. Mark and Melody were also blessed to care for their young nieces and nephew, Kabrina, Kadreana, and Kijuan for a time. One friend described Mark and Melody as “ministers to this City. They’ve loved people, and we love them.”

He was also a faithful provider and devoted over twenty years of service to the Clark County School District keeping schools in tip top shape with Saville Middle School being his last assignment. The work he did and the relationships he established will continue to be appreciated for years to come. Mark was very proud of the many accomplishments of his children but never so proud as he was, when he officiated the wedding of his son Nathan to Ioana Carter in 2012 and when he walked his daughter down the aisle to Daniel Pollion in 2023, except perhaps for the birth of his granddaughter Myla and grandson Elijah. Mark was a great son, brother, and loving uncle to Noah; always there for Robert and Venus and of course his mother Alice and stepfather Henry Robinson until Henry’s passing.

Having previously been appointed an Elder in the church, Mark received the pastor’s calling and was officially ordained on December 11, 2016, as the pastor of His Arms Christian Fellowship. He was dedicated to this assignment and faithfully shepherded the congregation under his pastoral care. Mark loved restoring classic cars and baking his famous sweet potato pies, from his grandmother’s recipe, and creating the Crème de la Crème of his culinary delights, the always scrumptious “Sausage Thing” a Carter Christmas morning tradition.

Mark walked a pilgrim’s path and proclaimed the Lord’s goodness in the earth while he lived. His talent, easy-going manner, leafy printed shirts, and friendly warm smiles allowed him to serve in many capacities. He was a marriage counselor, mentor, friend, prayer warrior and God’s music man. His life’s song has been orchestrated by God and its melody will continue through the lives he has impacted. Although we’ll miss him, he has joined that great cloud of witnesses and will be ready and waiting for each of us to finish the race to which we are called.

Those he leaves to continue the work are his wife, best friend, and partner in life’s songs, Melody J. Carter, Son, Nathan Carter and daughter-in-law Ioana, Daughter, Vacheral Pollion and son-in-law Daniel, Grandson, Elijah Carter, Granddaughter, Myla Carter, Mother, Elder Alice M. Carter Robinson, Brother, Robert F. Carter, Sister, Venus Carter Ramirez, Nephew, Noah Carter, Brother-in-law, Michael Tappin, Nephew, Kijuan Patrick, Niece, Kabrina Patrick, Niece, Kadreana Patrick, Aunt Thelma and Uncle Lawrence Miller, Aunt Willie and Uncle Moses Johnson, Aunt Loretta Gillespie, Cousins Roger Johnson (Sandra), Joyce Johnson, Linda G. Livingston (Alvin), Wanda Massey, Step-brothers, Henry and Gary Robinson, esteemed in-laws Ilie and Vicki Dan, John and Alisa Pollion, extended family members, dear life-long friends, David and Joanna Hammonds, tried and true brothers and sisters in Christ, an untold number of friends, church members, and only the Lord knows how many more people he has touched or the number of those who will keep humming the songs he wrote with his life.

A Celebration of Life Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, December 21, 2024 inside the Legacy Lounge at Inspired Life Memorials at Summerlin, located at 311 N. Buffalo Dr. Suite B., Las Vegas, NV 89145. The Viewing will be held from 10 AM - 12PM, with the funeral service starting at 12PM. A family and friends repast luncheon will be held immediately following the service.

Pastor Mark V. Carter Jr.'s Interment will take place on Monday, December 23, 2024 at 1Pm, at Davis Memorial Gardens, located at 6200 S. Eastern Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89119.

Additionally, please feel free to sign the digital guest book below to leave a loving message or positive memory of Mark with the family.