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Seffner Mourns Chamber Hero

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By YVETTE C. HAMMETT, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 9, 2008

Updated: 01/07/2008 09:11 pm

SEFFNER - Sharon Carter, the woman known as the motivator behind the small Seffner Chamber of Commerce, died Dec. 28. She had been suffering from pneumonia.

Carter, 63, will be remembered as the woman who kept the chamber going, even during periods when others were ready to throw in the towel.

"She was a real powerhouse for the chamber," said Dennis Schrand, president of the 130-member chamber.

Carter helped found the chamber in 1986 and made the business organization a part of her life. It was Carter, Schrand said, who organized meetings and charity drives, sent out e-mail, drove membership and sent out newsletters.

"As an individual, she was extremely compassionate in helping the elderly and those in need in our area, either directly or by requesting the chamber to facilitate food drives around the holidays," Schrand said.

"She was a wonderful person and highly motivated to do good and serve the chamber and her community," said Billy Dickerson, pastor of First Baptist Church of Mango. "She was just good at heart and always loved meeting people. I couldn't say enough about her as a person."

Originally from Norwich, N.Y., Carter headed to Florida in 1963, shortly after graduating from Norwich High School, longtime friend Marsha Switzer said.

She married and was widowed twice.

"She didn't have a highfalutin' bone in her body," said chamber member and friend Jerry Lewis.

When others were ready to give up on the tiny Seffner chamber, Carter wouldn't have it, Lewis said.

"She was afraid all the things we did that benefited just Seffner would get lost in the shuffle," he said. "She wanted to make sure we did really local activities."

"She was the brain of our chamber," said member Jim Bargo. "She did a lot of volunteer work but didn't want no praise for it."

Known as the unofficial historian of Seffner, Carter left behind boxes of photographs and other items she hoped Switzer would turn over to a historical society, Switzer said.

At her request, Carter will be buried privately in Bushnell with no service.

Reporter Yvette C. Hammett can be reached at (813) 657-4532 or at yhammett@tampatrib.com.

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