69 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com For 33 of the last 84 years, three generations of the same family have served as sheriffs of Georgetown County. The late Woodrow Carter began his law enforcement career in 1942 and held office from 1964 to 1979. His son, Michael Carter, took on the position from 1979 until 1992. Michael’s nephew, Carter Weaver, is currently serving his second full term. In 1942, Woodrow joined the Georgetown County Police Department as a deputy under Sheriff H.B. Bruorton. Woodrow was assigned to live in the jail, then on the corner of Screven and Highmarket Streets in Georgetown, where he was tasked with monitoring the prisoners. For approximately two years, Woodrow, his wife Mamie and their four children resided on the second floor. Inmates were booked on the ground floor before being taken to their cells, which were located on the third story of the building, accessible only by an exterior staircase. Mamie cooked the prisoners’ meals in the downstairs kitchen. By 1951, Woodrow had worked his way up to chief deputy under Garris Cribb, who had taken over after Bruorton passed away while in office. That year, according to an article Bob Gorman wrote for the Georgetown Times, Cribb and Woodrow were shot by a gangster in Murrells Inlet. Despite taking a bullet to the arm, Woodrow somehow managed to rush Sheriff Cribb, who had lost sight in one eye, to the nearest hospital, saving his life. In 1964, Cribb also died while holding office, and Gov. Donald S. Russell appointed Woodrow to take over. For his achievements such as busting a bank robbery in Pawleys Island and shutting down Georgetown’s infamous, internationally-known Sunset Lodge brothel that had operated for four decades under police protection, Woodrow earned the prestigious South Carolina Sheriff of the Year award in 1973. After 37 years in law enforcement, Woodrow retired on July 1, 1979. That same day, Gov. Dick Riley appointed Woodrow’s son Michael Carter as the new sheriff. Michael’s experience stemmed from serving in the Air Force in Germany from 1963-1966 and working with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division for 13 years, where, as an undercover agent, he ran bloodhounds, chased criminals and arrested murderers, including the notorious A BLUE Streak of SERVICE Three generations of Georgetown County sheriffs in one family BY SARAH ROSE Woodrow Carter, former sheriff of Georgetown County. Michael Carter, former sheriff of Georgetown County. Carter Weaver, current sheriff of Georgetown County. Photo provided by Michael Carter. Photo provided by Michael Carter.
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