Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of four articles on Columbiana women who make a difference in our community.

By PHOEBE DONALD ROBINSON / Community Columnist

Doctors Anthony Ciulla, Scott Davidson and Ken Puckett of the Columbiana Clinic recently invited the first female internist to their staff — Dr. Rhonda Carter.

In the eighth grade, Carter moved with her parents, Marion Logan and William Carter, and brother Jason to Harpersville.

Carter’s Shelby County roots go deep to the 1800s. Carter’s maternal great-great grandfather was John Robert Baker and her maternal grandfather, John Logan, married Audrey Baker.

“Rhonda was quiet and very serious,” said her mother. “She read books a lot and took her schoolwork very serious.”

Carter graduated as valedictorian from Vincent High School in 1985.

Her biology teacher and mentor, Debby Barnes, suggested medical school as a profession.

Carter attended the University of Montevallo on a full tuition scholarship and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s in Biology, the first in her family to graduate from college.

After graduation she worked at UAB in a cardiovascular research lab and had several award winning articles published.

Carter received a scholarship to the University of South Alabama Medical School, where she married in her first year.

She graduated third in her class and was a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.

Carter completed her residency in internal medicine at Wake Forest and began her practice in Columbiana with Dr. Tom Nolen as a staff physician with Baptist Health Center.

“I wanted to be close to my family,” said Carter. “Family is very important to me.”

Soon after beginning her practice, her husband suddenly died when she was eight weeks pregnant.

In shock, Columbiana reached out to the young pregnant widow.

Her brother, Jason, moved in with her.

Her pregnancy and new son kept her going through these grief-filled days.

Later, Jason introduced his sister to his friend Kevin. Love came a second time to Carter.

She married Kevin on a Caribbean beach and today they live in Columbiana with their two sons.

Not only is Carter an excellent physician, she has been the medical director of Hospice Complete in Pelham since 2005.

Active in civic affairs, she is a past president of the Novella Club.

She is involved in her children’s activities and is very close to her family, immediate and extended.

Carter is a woman who does it all: demanding medical profession, compassionate hospice director, civic worker, devoted wife, mother, daughter and sister.

Rhonda Carter is a woman who makes a difference in Columbiana.

Phoebe Donald Robinson can be reached by e-mail at phoeberobinson@bellsouth.net.