Honoring Monsignor Carter
ECCO is honored to announce its first-ever Founders Day, scheduled for Tuesday, September 9, 2025, in celebration of the life and legacy of ECCO founders, Monsignor James A. Carter. We invite the community to reflect on Monsignor Carter’s enduring impact, share stories of his influence, and support ECCO’s mission of providing help and hope to local neighbors in their time of need.
Monsignor Carter passed away on September 9, 2024, after decades of faithful service to the Lowcountry. Even after his retirement in 2017, he remained actively involved in ECCO, ensuring its mission would thrive well into the future. His passing left a deep void, but his legacy of love, faith, and helping neighbors will endure through the many lives he touched.
“Founders Day is our opportunity to honor Monsignor Carter’s vision and recommit ourselves to the mission he began over 35 years ago,” said Stephanie Kelley, Executive Director of ECCO. “He built ECCO out of love, faith, and compassion, and today, his legacy continues through every act of service and every neighbor we can help.”
Throughout the beginning of September, ECCO will share stories, photos, and reflections that highlight Monsignor Carter’s lasting contributions. We encourage you to participate by:
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- Share your personal stories or memories of Monsignor Carter below. (scroll down)
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- Make a gift to ECCO in honor of his legacy. Click here to make your impact!
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- Join the online celebration through ECCO’s website and social media – follow us @eccocharleston!
ECCO invites the entire community to be part of this special day of remembrance and celebration. Together, we can ensure Monsignor Carter’s legacy of hope and service continues for generations to come.
Share Your Favorite Story
Monsignor touched many lives during his time and made a great impact in this community. We’d love to use this page as a way to keep his legacy alive, by sharing stories, memories, and the ways Monsignor left an imprint on your life. ECCO plans to use these stories throughout our 35th anniversary and beyond. Simply comment below, and add to our thread of impactful memories.
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Remembering Monsignor
Monsignor James “Jim” Carter, a beloved Charleston native, longtime pastor of Christ Our King, and founder of ECCO passed away on September 9, 2024, leaving a lasting impact of faith and selfless service.
Ordained in 1966, Monsignor Carter spent decades leading congregations across the Lowcountry, including Holy Spirit on Johns Island and Our Lady of Good Counsel on Folly Beach. In 1989, he took on the role of pastor at Christ Our King in Mount Pleasant.
If you asked, Monsignor would proudly say his most impactful legacy was his founding of ECCO in the aftermath of Hurricane Hugo. Witnessing its devastating effects in Mount Pleasant, he mobilized the parish to provide aid and support to the community. ECCO became a permanent resource to provide hope and help to thousands of local families in their time of need. His compassion and leadership turned a moment of crisis into an anchor nonprofit in the Charleston community.
Even after his retirement in 2017, Monsignor Carter remained involved with ECCO as its Chief Operating Officer/Founder, continuing his dedication to serving others. His passing leaves a deep void, but his legacy of love, faith, and helping neighbors will endure through the many lives he touched. Monsignor Carter’s impact on Charleston, especially through ECCO, will be remembered for generations to come.
I had the pleasure of meeting Monsignor in 2019, and through the years gained such respect and admiration for the way in which he carried himself with grace, humility, gentleness, and great sense of humor. I’ll miss his weekly check-ins at ECCO – where he sincerely cared about how I was doing, how my family was doing, and if there was anything he could do for me. He ALWAYS put others before himself, and I’ll miss him dearly.
I always loved visiting with him on Wednesday. He was quiet and stealth like when he entered the food warehouse. He would always say you still here and I would say yes. He enjoyed his coffee and parking sideways. I still catch myself looking for him to come through the door. He definitely made an impact on the community. Will be missed by many.
I meet Monsignor Carter after Hurricane Hugo. I was the Executive Director of My Sister’s House, Inc. at the time and he wanted to discuss how we could assist domestic violence victims. Fast forward to my time as an ECCO Board Member, we connected again and I feel blessed that God placed Monsignor in my life!
I knew Monsignor Carter when he became the priest at St Paul the Apostle in Spartanburg. He became my priest again when he became pastor at Christ our King. I was here during Hugo and my son and I volunteered at the first distribution center at the old Doschers building in Mt Pleasant where they collected items for those affected by Hugo. Monsignor Carter was a big influence in my life. Such an amazing priest. He was present for many big events in my family’s life. ECCO is a great organization. I am very proud to have taken part in the start of an amazing idea by an amazing soul.