HCWA Dedicates the James C. “Jimmy” Carter, Jr. Boardroom

    (McDonough, GA – August 18, 2025) For those who knew him best, the dedication of the Henry County Water Authority’s (HCWA) James C. “Jimmy” Carter, Jr. Boardroom following the August meeting was a bittersweet moment. A celebration of a lifetime of dedicated public service was not void of the sorrow felt by family and friends in attendance missing his presence.
    
    “Knowing my dad, he would have been thinking there are others who are more deserving of this honor, because he was always deflecting any attention on himself,” says Jake Carter, Jimmy Carter’s son who followed in his father’s footsteps as operator of Southern Belle Farm, the family’s agribusiness and popular tourist destination in McDonough. “As a family, we are honored and humbled by this (dedication). My father always wanted to serve others and give back. He was a humble servant, and it was never about him. It was about the community he loved to serve.”

    The younger Carter even noted how his father insisted on submitting his formal resignation from the HCWA Board just days before his death in February of 2024. “He was all about doing things the right way,” adds Jake, who recalls how that last unselfish act brought tears to his father’s eyes as he formally acknowledged his time in public service had come to an end.

    That public service record of the late Jimmy Carter was impressive, indeed, according to those who served with him in various capacities and spoke of his integrity during the dedication event. In addition to his 19 years on the HCWA Board, which included appointments by four different District 3 Henry County Commissioners, he served as an elected member of the Henry County School Board for 18 additional years and was a veteran of the U.S. Army.

“This is a day to celebrate the accomplishments of Jimmy Carter and the many things he’s done for our county and community,” says Warren Holder, current Chairman of the HCWA Board who served with Carter as a fellow Water Authority Member. “This is just a small gesture to reflect all that he’s done for so many. He was a great public servant and a dear friend.”

    Lindy Farmer, former General Manager of the HCWA, who was the first chief executive in the Authority’s history, spoke fondly of the 17 years he served under the leadership of Jimmy Carter, prior to Farmer’s retirement in 2022.
“Mr. Carter provided great leadership and always supported our efforts as a staff, but he never interfered with the day-to-day operations of the Authority,” says Farmer. “He led a Board who provided us with the resources and tools we needed to grow the Authority into a model utility in the state.”

    Farmer also noted the tribute not only honored Mr. Carter, but his family, which includes daughter Holly Carter Cobb and daughter-in-law Jennifer Carter who are also public servants – the former a previous Member of the Henry County Board of Education and the latter a current School Board Member.

    “This was a great tribute to honor Mr. Carter and his family, not only for what he meant to the Water Authority, but what he meant to the community as a whole,” adds Farmer. “While he did a great job on the Authority Board, he was an even better man.”

    Carter was a native of Henry County, sixth generation resident, and third generation local dairy farmer, in addition to being the founder of Southern Belle Farm. In 1975, following his graduation from the University of Georgia and tour in the Army, Carter began operating his family’s dairy farm. After closing those operations in 1986, he worked in the agricultural industry as an independent sales representative for ABS Global, Inc. and Four Seasons Marketing
Group. He also has previous professional experience as the Executive Director of the Georgia Milk Producers, Inc.

    During his time on the HCWA Board, the Authority experienced several improvements and expansions to the water
and sewer systems and respective facilities, including:

• Legislation to rename the Henry County Water & Sewerage Authority to the Henry County Water Authority
• Opening of the Tussahaw (Lindy D. Farmer, Jr.) Reservoir and Treatment Plant
• Opening of the Tussahaw Reservoir Public Use Area
• Renovation of the Towaliga Water Treatment Plant
• Expansion of the Bear Creek, Indian Creek, and Walnut Creek Water Reclamation Facilities
• Opening of the Engineering Building at the HCWA Headquarters Campus
• Construction of the Northeast Elevated Water Tank
• Construction of the South Ola Elevated Water Tank

Among the many industry awards the HCWA received during Mr. Carter’s tenure include:

• Water Distribution System of the Year in Georgia on multiple occasions
• Wastewater Collection System of the Year in Georgia on multiple occasions
• Water Treatment Plant of the Year in Georgia for the Towaliga and Tussahaw Water Treatment Plants on multiple occasions
• Wastewater Treatment Plant of the Year in Georgia for the Bear Creek, Walnut Creek, and Indian Creek Water Reclamation Facilities on multiple occasions
• Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year in 2016

    “I really enjoyed working with Mr. Carter on so many fronts, because he was very trustworthy, professional and respectful, and he always provided great wisdom and perspective,” says Tony Carnell, HCWA General Manager. “He provided unwavering support, too, especially during stressful times, always assuring me that everything was going to be ok. He would check on me often to make sure I was good and to see if there was anything I needed. I miss him deeply, both personally and professionally.”



Jimmy Carter’s family and Members of the HCWA board and staff unveil the James C. “Jimmy” Carter, Jr. Boardroom at the Authority headquarters.












Tony Carnell (at the podium), HCWA General Manager, addresses family and friends of the late Jimmy Carter at the Dedication of the James C. “Jimmy” Carter, Jr. Boardroom.











Carlotta Harrell, Chair of the Henry County Board of Commissioners, reflects on her time
serving with Jimmy Carter on the HCWA Board.













Jake Carter, son of the late Jimmy Carter, expresses his family’s appreciation to the HCWA for dedicating their boardroom to his father for his 19 years of dedicated service to the Authority and a lifetime of service to the Henry County community.




















Kathy Carter (left), widow of the late Jimmy Carter, enjoys memories of her husband with Lindy Farmer (right), former HCWA General Manager who benefitted from Mr. Carter’s leadership for the 17 years they worked together.