Honoring Monsignor Carter
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.
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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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.