Carter listens intently to a customer’s account of her symptoms. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
The tall man sporting a plaid bowtie and a doctor’s coat greeted customers entering the tidy Carter drugstore with a booming “the top of the afternoon to you.” Whether they were school children looking for snacks, neighbors heading for the ATM machine or adults from around the city seeking help for what ails them, pharmacist Lester Carter respectfully inquired about how he might help. And he accepted hugs from longtime patrons.
“I love him,” said neighborhood resident Nina Darty. Happy and excited to see Carter on a recent afternoon, Darty, a customer since her childhood, said she had feared Carter had passed away after he was absent from the store for a year.
Suffering several illnesses and the death of his wife in October, Carter sold his store, at 2400 W. Burleigh St., to the local Hayat chain in July 2014. The 83-year-old former owner returned to work at the store in February.
Carter has been a fixture in the community since he opened Carter Drug Store in spring 1968. The only black drugstore owner in Milwaukee, as far as he knows, Carter filled prescriptions and dispensed herbal remedies in his own store for 47 years. He also researched, developed and manufactured a line of natural “medicinals” to solve medical problems not properly addressed by the drug manufacturers, according to his product brochure. Then as now, Carter listened to his customers’ concerns, studied the health problems they presented, advised them, told them stories and let them know he really cared.
Carter leaves the store to give a speech to the Medical College of Wisconsin’s class of 2015, the evening before its commencement ceremony. (Photo by Andrea Waxman)
“He’s always there for me,” said Darty, whose family patronized the drug store at 8th Street and North Avenue where Carter worked before he bought his own store. “If I can’t afford to go to the doctor, I go to him. If I’ve got something going on, I come in and ask him and he gives me his advice,” she added.
Most everyone in the city has gone to Carter for something, sometime, said Linda Caples, director of continuing and professional education at the Medical College of Wisconsin and a Carter Drug Store customer for 20 years. Caples added that she and her family and friends feel so much better after seeing him, not just because his remedies improve their health, but because he is so supportive. He sees his customers as patients and he delivers excellent patient care, Caples said. That is why they call him Dr. Carter, not because they think he is a medical doctor, several of them agreed.
Carter was recognized by the Medical College of Wisconsin with an honorary doctoral degree at its commencement ceremony on May 15. The college cited his dedication to providing personalized and compassionate health care, leadership in creating interdisciplinary and inter-professional collaborations to serve African-Americans and people of all ethnic backgrounds, and outstanding service to humanity at large as a leader and role model.
A native of Omaha, Neb., Carter credits his alma mater, Creighton University School of Pharmacy, for its high standards and broad curriculum that included botany and pharmacognosy, the study of active medicinal substances found in plants, he said. “It was rigorous — they expected perfection. The final exam included 50 pieces of paper on which branches and other plant parts were displayed. If you missed over five, you flunked,” he added.
Charles Jones said he speaks for many when he says Carter has been a father figure. Employed at Carter Drug Store for three years starting when he was a junior at North Division High School in the 1960s, Jones stayed in touch with Carter for the next 35 years and returned to work as a cashier 10 years ago.
“I just marvel at the knowledge that Mr. Carter has about everything. (His customers) trust him because everything that he has ever told anyone worked exactly like he told them it would,” Jones said.
Carter said he is interested in solving medical problems and uses his scientific training to think critically and creatively. Concerned about the side effects of pharmaceutical medicines, he works to find herbal solutions. Medical practitioners must continue educating themselves and working to solve their patients’ problems, he said.
In a speech prepared for the Medical College graduates, Carter urged the new doctors to keep an open mind and continue learning, especially about the value of herbal medicines. “There are so many changing ideas and theories in the practice of medicine,” he wrote. “It is imperative that we provide patients with the information they need and remember that the best interests of our patients are the most important thing.”
Since his return to his former store, which no longer sells prescription medicines, Carter has been working about 20 hours a week. But when he owned the store, he worked very long hours and on weekends, according to Caples.
“He is passionate about being a druggist,” she said, “and he has a genuine concern about the health of his community.”
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I was thrilled to read this article. Dr. Carter is a living legend. I now live in Texas & I often would wonder how he was doing. God bless Dr. Carter & his ongoing desire to help his community.
Can he help with spots and discoloration of the face.
He’s 83
Not only has DrCarter provided us with herbal remedies to cure our elments DrCarter has been and still is a role model for many . Thanks for all your years of experience and dedication to this community.
I love Dr.Carter. If there anything you want or need trust me he has it. Dr.Carter also give great advise. when needed. Thank you Dr. Carter and keep ministering to the community.
A household name in the (Inner city) as it was called while growin up.Cudo’s to Mr.Carter..!
Thank you, for being a good friend to the Roxbury family. Since the day you moved into the neighborhood!!!
My daughter is now 21 and when she was about 5 or 6 mo’s old she was very sick and couldn’t keep anything down and was unable to eat table food. I went into carter’s drug store crying and began to tell him about my sick baby. He began to treat her. Even though it took sometime and yes of treatment and Dr Darlene a b day Dr carter brought her through. She’s now a healthy young lady and I thank God for Dr carter wisdom concern and heart
He has helped me and my children numerous timesthank you and God bless you
I remember as a kid the smell of freshly pop popcorn that was neing popped every time my grandfather and i would pick up prescriptions. Popcorn never taste soo good.
He’s been a pillar in the community and a wealth of knowledge for so many years.
Dr. Carter helped me with problems my boys had coming up as kids. The great part about it was that his recommendations worked better than the medicine the pediatricians would prescribe. He is truly a gifted man and God sent.
I always speaks highly of Dr.Carter,all women who are mothers of infants should get to know Dr.Carter?i remember one of the babies was colicky Dr.Carter had grip h20 on hand,that did the trick,thank you Dr.Carter for saving me,and your many years of service?
Is he back on burleigh?
Yes
I remember Doctor
I lived on 22nd and Locust many, many years ago.I remember going to him.He was very polite and professional.God bless him,for what he did and continues to do for the community.He’s well respected and loved. I will look into his herbal suggestions. Very interesting.
My dad, Lincoln Garland, trusted doc Carter. He went there, when in need of his special remedies, to treat our aliments lol… My dad has passed away, he would be happy to know that his pharmacist was being honored…
I am glad to hear he is doing well. He is a very caring and professional man. He has help raise half the children in the community through his advice and care. Thank God for your wisdom and knowledge Dr. Carter.
I also wondered about Dr. Carter over the last 40 years. I lived across the street from Carter’s Drug Store in 1976. I had just had my baby and Dr. Carter gave me valuable information as a new mother and a black woman. Thank you so much Dr. Carter for your service, kindness, experience and no judgment policy for your customers. In God’s love always.
OMG I’m sitting here with 1st MAJOR CRAMPS and needing help bad. I said to my husband, run me down to see Dr. Carter? He said baby you mean Carter drug store? I said yes, He said baby Dr. Carter been sold that store. I didn’t believe him so I came online to see if it were true.
My heart is truly broken. I use to go see him instead of going to the money sucking doctors. Dr. Carter had a Remedy for EVERYTHING for a little bit of money and whatever he recommended, it WORKED, HE’s A REAL TRUE HEALER.
Dr. Carter I miss you so much, I’m hurting so bad. OMG I MISS YOU DR. CARTER. If you see this message send me an email, I need HELP.
Thank you in advance