NORMAN AND JANE CARTER

About The Golden Rule, Inc....

​The Golden Rule, Inc., began in 1996, as a passing thought through the mind of our founder and Executive Director, Norman King Carter Jr.  Having experienced the costs of substance abuse treatment with family members, Mr. Carter knew there had to be a way of getting help for those without insurance or a vast amount of  money or resources.  

Both "Mr. Norman" and "Ms. Jane" Carter were  recently retired from careers in Education.  Mr. Norman taught and coached basketball, eventually retiring  after 21 years as the Taylor County School Superintendent.  "Ms. Jane" spent her career teaching in the elementary grades.

Additionally "Coach", as Mr. Norman was known to many, left an outstanding legacy throughout the state of Georgia with a record of 132 consecutive wins by his girls basketball teams and five state championships from 1968 to 1972. In his twelve years of coaching women's basketball, Coach Carter compiled a career record of 350-32 for a state record .916 winning percentage. This record still stands to date.  

Being one of the most determined individuals you will ever meet, Mr. Norman worked without ceasing until he could begin 
to see the efforts of his dream and the hard work of so many begin to come to fruition in establishing The Golden Rule, Inc. 
​ As of September, 2018, over 1,250 women have walked through the gates of The Golden Rule, Inc.  
 

Established in 1996
​

After securing 30 acres of woodland in western Taylor County, work began cutting and clearing a drive and  a lot for the home of The Golden Rule Inc.   A  1979 single-wide mobile home was purchased and remodeled as the first residence for a manager and three residents.  Mr. Norman laughs while reminiscing that he learned to caulk that fall as the house leaked like a sieve.  Many local church members and friends volunteered their time and equipment in order to achieve this very large task.  Wells were drilled for water, septic tanks installed and electricity connected preparing to open what would come to be one of the most successful women's facilities in the state of Georgia.

Today, this acreage is home to seven units including two dormitory style houses providing 24 client beds. Also on the property are three private houses for staff, an Education/Office building including a computer lab and chapel and a ​Laundry/Storage building.  The property offers a walking trail, a volleyball court and basketball area. Also located on the property are two underground storm shelters for safety during inclement weather.  The Golden Rule, Inc. possesses two 15-passenger vans for transportation of the clients to school, outings, church and meetings.

Our Team

We're Here for You...

Harriet W. Felts
Clinical Director
Lead Addictions Counselor

Harriet W. Felts arrived at The Golden Rule, Inc., on August 21, 1998, per court order after landing in jail charged with forging prescriptions for narcotics.   During a long and successful career in  Emergency Nursing, Ms. Harriet fell prey to kidney disease and suffered from a long bout with kidney stones.  This resulted in the removal of her right kidney in 1990, and a strong addiction to narcotics for the next 8 years.

"When I landed in that jail cell in 1998, I knew there was​ nowhere to look but up.  I had lost everything... custody of my five year old son - my only child, my nursing license, my home, my car.  The only thing I had left was a miserable life....if you could call it that. At least I wasn't dead but to remain alive something had to change."

On August 10, 2023, Ms. Harriet celebrated 25 years clean and sober and has devoted her life's work to helping women make those changes required to get to know themselves and to live a clean and sober life.  Ms. H (as she is called by the Golden Girls) is originally from Tifton, Georgia, and was an honor graduate of Tift County High School and Abraham Baldwin College (ABAC). She worked many years in the nursing field.  She has one son and daughter in law, Jordan and Samantha Metcalfe Browning and two granddaughters, Tatie and Gracie.


Linda Henry
Clinical Program Specialist
Assistant Clinical Director
Addictions Counselor

Linda Henry arrived at The Golden Rule, Inc., on February 20, 2009. Golden Rule representatives met Ms. Henry at the Greyhound Bus Station in Columbus after her release from Federal Prison.  She completed the program in November, 2009, and began part-time work on campus.  That part-time work soon became full-time employment where Ms. Linda remains as an integral part of the treatment team..

"My plan when leaving prison after 7 years there was to get myself a canine baby, name him 'Oliver Wendell' and live out the rest of my life away from crowds of people. I spent so much time in jail cells and prison cooped up with other women over my 25 years of using....well, I just wanted to be alone."
 
Ms. Linda is originally from Macon, Georgia, where she graduated from Northeast High School and attended Mercer University School of Business.  She holds a degree in Hotel Management from Columbia Technical College, Columbia South Caroline.  Ms. Linda has one daughter, Dr. Celeste MacEwen, a Veterinarian in Austin, Texas.