Cartter Frierson
Cartter Frierson, 81, of Rising Fawn went home to be with his Lord on Thursday, November 26, 2020.
Cartter was a graduate of Baylor School, Dartmouth College, and the Wharton Graduate School of the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated first in his class from the Fundamentals of Systems Engineering Program at IBM, and spent his entire career in the field of Information Technology. After 11 years developing information systems at Dixie Yarns he formed his own management consulting firm. He spent the next 30 years showing organizations of all kinds how to revise their strategic plans to reflect the revolutionary impact of computer systems. He was elected president of the nation’s leading association of small consultancies and directed the merger of that association with the Institute of Management Consultants, of which he served as a board member for many years. He then started a web site publishing firm that provided the first web portal for affiliated institutes in forty countries. His firm was named to the list of 100 leading management consulting firms by Consultant News.
Cartter served on the boards of Goodwill, the YMCA, GPS, Siskin Foundation, Memorial Foundation, Memorial Hospital, Salvation Army and was the founding treasurer of Chattanooga Hospice. He chaired numerous fund-raising campaigns for these and other organizations. He served as a ruling elder in the Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church for 25 years, of which he was a member for 65 years. He wrote the centennial history for the church in 1992 and helped plant Rock Creek Fellowship and Northshore Presbyterian Church. He started the Chattanooga Ski Club, enjoying skiing with family and friends for over 50 years.
Cartter served as a reserve officer in the U.S. Army military intelligence, spending most of his two years of active duty with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment on the Iron Curtain in West Germany. Cartter enjoyed sailing and music, especially blue grass guitar and whistling, even competing in international whistling competitions. He and his wife and friends once delivered a ketch from Florida to the Virgin Islands.
Following in the footsteps of his mother, Cartter was an avid historian and genealogist, writing extensive manuscripts on his ancestors. The often-challenging lives of these forbearers gave him a strong sense of the opportunities this country afforded them through perseverance and hard work. His passion for this genealogy reflected his love and appreciation for his family, both past and present.
Cartter was a devoted husband who cherished his wife and family. His children and grandchildren adored him and always looked forward to time together on the farm, much like his own childhood memories at Summertown on Signal Mountain. He endured Pulmonary Fibrosis with a peace and contentment that came from his deep faith in Jesus Christ. The cheerfulness, funny jokes, and wisdom that he shared are the blessings we hold as we celebrate his life.
Survivors include his loving wife of 55 years, Patty Browne Frierson; daughters, Jennifer (Will) Frierson Walldorf, Winston-Salem, NC; and Eleanor (Marty) Frierson Graham-Navarro, Greenville, SC; son, Thomas Cartter Frierson, Jr., Marietta, GA; grandchildren, Will Walldorf, III, Amy Walldorf, Anson Walldorf, Benjamin Graham, James Graham, Kruesi Graham, Blake Frierson, Scotty Frierson, Patty Ann Frierson and Crockett Frierson; brothers, Paul (Maureen) Frierson, Lookout Mountain, Dan (Joan) Frierson, Lookout Mountain and Jim (Patti) Frierson, Chattanooga; along with many loving nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, J. Burton and Rowena Kruesi Frierson; twin brother, George West Frierson and brother, J. Burton Frierson, III.
Graveside services celebrating and honoring the life of Cartter Frierson will take place at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, at Forest Hills Cemetery with Reverend Roger Gulick and Reverend Frank Hitchings officiating.
We would like to thank the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center at Memorial Hospital for their dedication. The care Cartter received extended and improved the quality of his life.
Visit www.heritagebattlefield.com to share condolences with the family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Presbyterian Church Chattanooga, the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center at Memorial Hospital or charity of your choice.
Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home & Crematory, Battlefield Parkway.