Carter Hugh Epperly

Carter Hugh Epperly, a freshman at Powhatan High School in Powhatan, Virginia, passed away on Monday, May 6, 2024, at the St. Mary’s Hospital in Richmond, Virginia. He had been in his usual health until suffering a heart attack on Saturday morning. Carter was the son of Patrick Hugh Epperly and Marjorie (Mallow) and Jeffrey Scott Jurkuta.


Carter was born on Friday, February 27, 2009, at the St. Francis Medical Center in Midlothian, Virginia, with a very rare chromosomal condition. It caused both physical and developmental disabilities, but he refused to let that deter him from exceeding all expectations during the short time he had here on Earth. Carter was always living on borrowed time, but what a glorious ride he had. He touched so many lives and so many touched his. He enriched the lives of everyone he met. For a kid who was nonverbal, Carter said an awful lot. iPads were his outlet to the world. He loved attending school, playing basketball, bowling, horseback riding, cartoons, all animals, and the time he spent with his speech and physical therapists. They were his best friends, as were his teachers and aides in the Powhatan County Public Schools. Carter loved being in or on the water. It made no difference whether it was a pool, a boat, or a bathtub. He also thoroughly enjoyed the many Good Boy Awards he received throughout the years. A big highlight of Carter’s life was the Disney World vacation he had in February. All his other vacations were spent on the family farm in Red Creek, West Virginia, where he attended the Flanagan Hill Church.


Carter leaves a hole in the hearts and lives of all the family he leaves behind: His parents, sister Erica, stepbrother Kyle, maternal grandmother Kaye Mallow and bonus grandparents Ted and Elizabeth Jurkuta. Also uncles Michael Epperly and Warren Mallow, aunt Kristi Epperly (and Richard) Hamilton, and a host of cousins and other extended family members primarily in Virginia and West Virginia. He was predeceased by his paternal grandparents, Hugh Epperly and Alice Epperly, and his maternal grandfather, Roy Mallow, Jr.


Carter was optimistic and determined through every transition of his life. He was funny and kind to everyone he came into contact with and he was an incredible fighter to the very end. Always remember Carter. He was special. He was unique. Be like Carter.


The family will receive friends and relatives at the Bennett & Barden Funeral Home located at 3215 Anderson Highway in Powhatan on Friday, May 10, 2024, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Afterward, Carter will be moved to West Virginia, where he will lie in repose at the Flanagan Hill Church in Red Creek on Monday, May 13, from 12:00-2:00 p.m, the funeral hour. Burial will follow in the Buena Chapel Church cemetery located in Canaan Valley, where he will be laid to rest beside his maternal great-grandparents.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the LifeNet Health Foundation, lifenethealth.org.