Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
'Face of Cancer' Founder Holly Carter, 50, Has Died
GV-Wire-1
By gvwire
Published 6 years ago on
May 28, 2019

Share

Holly Carter, whose battle with cancer inspired a Fresno charity helping women like her, died Tuesday.

“Every woman battling cancer wants to be seen as a beautiful valiant warrior.” — Holly Carter

She was 50 years old and had entered hospice in early May.

Said Carter late last year: “Every woman battling cancer wants to be seen as a beautiful valiant warrior.”

Throughout her health challenges, Carter always achieved that goal.

‘Brave, Never Backing Away’

After Carter went into hospice, Fresno resident Stuart Weil sent a note summing up the feelings of many.

“Holly, You have always been so brave never backing away from what you believed in,” Weil said. “Your friendship has been a blessing to me and memories will live forever.”

Christina Needham also posted a note, saying, “I met you briefly, you helped my family through a crisis, while dealing with your own. You are a special lady, I will always remember.”

The Face of Cancer

Carter founded The Face of Cancer, a charity to help women battling cancer feel beautiful and feminine. The organization provided cancer patients with a fantasy photo shoot.

She was also known as one of Fresno’s top publicists. Running her own firm, Carter & Co. Communications, she helped businesses and political candidates with their messaging.

In 2016, Carter ran for the open Fresno City Council seat representing northeast Fresno. She lost in the primary in a race ultimately won by Garry Bredefeld.

Cancer Returns in 2018

Last fall, Carter announced that her breast cancer, once in remission, had returned and was terminal.

“My goal was to live to be 50, and I didn’t really look beyond that, because 50 seemed pretty far away. But last year, when I was re-diagnosed and I thought, ‘Okay, I’m going to make this birthday, and I’m going to tell people. Because The Face of Cancer isn’t going to survive me if I don’t,” Carter told Fox 26 News.

Carter is survived by four children and three grandchildren. Funeral services are set for 11 a.m. Saturday at The Well Community Church, 4545 N. Palm Ave.

A gofundme.com account has been set up to help her family with funeral expenses.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

4 Million Acres of California Forests Could Lose Protection. What Trump’s ‘Roadless Rule’ Repeal Could Do

DON'T MISS

Israeli Settlers Raid West Bank Town, Troops Kill 3 Palestinians

DON'T MISS

West Nile Virus Detected in Mosquitoes in Fresno County

DON'T MISS

Trump Says Netanyahu’s Trial Should Be Canceled

DON'T MISS

St. Agnes’ New Chief Medical Officer Is a Kidney Care Expert

DON'T MISS

US Military to Create Two New Border Zones, Officials Say

DON'T MISS

Trump Signals US May Ease Iran Oil Sanction Enforcement to Help Rebuild Country

DON'T MISS

CIA Says Intelligence Indicates Iran’s Nuclear Program Severely Damaged

DON'T MISS

Upscale Woodward Park Area Apartments Sell for $19 Million

DON'T MISS

Wired Wednesday: Learn the Latest on the Caleb Quick Murder Hearings

UP NEXT

St. Agnes’ New Chief Medical Officer Is a Kidney Care Expert

UP NEXT

Upscale Woodward Park Area Apartments Sell for $19 Million

UP NEXT

Fresno Residents Join Nationwide Fast to Call Attention to Gaza Crisis

UP NEXT

How a Birthday Boat Ride on Lake Tahoe Turned Tragic

UP NEXT

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Kimberly Ann Harris

UP NEXT

Fresno County Wildfire Near Coalinga Grows to 852 Acres, 65% Contained

UP NEXT

Cuomo Concedes to Mamdani in New York City Democratic Mayoral Contest

UP NEXT

Mamdani Holds Lead Over Cuomo in Democratic Primary for NYC Mayor

UP NEXT

Fresno County’s New Breeding Ordinance Could Shut Down 50 Operations

UP NEXT

Fresno County Wildfire Quickly Contained. How Did They Do It?

Trump Says Netanyahu’s Trial Should Be Canceled

7 hours ago

St. Agnes’ New Chief Medical Officer Is a Kidney Care Expert

7 hours ago

US Military to Create Two New Border Zones, Officials Say

7 hours ago

Trump Signals US May Ease Iran Oil Sanction Enforcement to Help Rebuild Country

8 hours ago

CIA Says Intelligence Indicates Iran’s Nuclear Program Severely Damaged

9 hours ago

Upscale Woodward Park Area Apartments Sell for $19 Million

10 hours ago

Wired Wednesday: Learn the Latest on the Caleb Quick Murder Hearings

10 hours ago

Trump Administration Orders CA to Strip Trans Athlete of Medals

10 hours ago

Three Mile Island Nuclear Plant Reboot Fast-Tracked to 2027

10 hours ago

Democratic Lawmaker Pleads Not Guilty to Assaulting US Agents at Immigration Center

10 hours ago

4 Million Acres of California Forests Could Lose Protection. What Trump’s ‘Roadless Rule’ Repeal Could Do

This story was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. The Trump administration’s plan to repeal a rule prohibiti...

6 hours ago

Tahoe National Forest
6 hours ago

4 Million Acres of California Forests Could Lose Protection. What Trump’s ‘Roadless Rule’ Repeal Could Do

Palestinians gather to receive aid supplies in Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip, June 17, 2025. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo
7 hours ago

Israeli Settlers Raid West Bank Town, Troops Kill 3 Palestinians

West Nile virus mosquito
7 hours ago

West Nile Virus Detected in Mosquitoes in Fresno County

President Donald Trump meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 7, 2025. (Reuters File)
7 hours ago

Trump Says Netanyahu’s Trial Should Be Canceled

7 hours ago

St. Agnes’ New Chief Medical Officer Is a Kidney Care Expert

A U.S. Border Patrol vehicle patrols along the border wall, following the establishment of a 260-mile military zone along the southern U.S. border in New Mexico and Texas as part of the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration, in Sunland Park, New Mexico, U.S., May 20, 2025. (Reuters File)
7 hours ago

US Military to Create Two New Border Zones, Officials Say

Oil tankers pass through the Strait of Hormuz, December 21, 2018. (Reuters File)
8 hours ago

Trump Signals US May Ease Iran Oil Sanction Enforcement to Help Rebuild Country

CIA Director John Ratcliffe speaks during an interview at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 30, 2025. (Reuters File)
9 hours ago

CIA Says Intelligence Indicates Iran’s Nuclear Program Severely Damaged

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend