From Grocery Store to Grandparents: The Story of Dean and Jackie Carpenter’s Unending Love

Before they had two children, four grandchildren, and reached 53 years of marriage, Dean and Jackie Carpenter first had to be introduced. The story of their introduction is as sweet as the decades of love they have enjoyed since.

Both Dean and Jackie were born in Dallas, North Carolina, which is a small town not far away from the big city of Charlotte. The couple have lived in the city for their entire lives, with the majority of it happening together.

Jackie’s parents were named Faye and Claudia, while Dean’s parents were AD and Helen Carpenter. The Carpenter family owned and operated Carpenter’s Food Mart in Dallas.

At one point, the aisles of meats, produce, drinks, and boxes of foods became the setting for true love to take root, as the grocery store was the place where Dean and Jackie first met.

“We love the story of how my grandpa and my nana met,” said one of Dean and Jackie’s four grandchildren, Holland McCarter. “It was the start of such a beautiful family that has grown so much through love. Love grows a family, for sure.”

Another thing that played into the couple’s initial romance was the fact that Jackie was a best friend of Dean’s sister, Trisha. This helped the two spend a lot of time near each other and get acquainted.

Eventually, the two started to get romantically interested in each other. They fell into a deep and true love that has lasted over five decades and included many ups and downs.

“The story of how they met is incredible, but how they’ve stayed in love and committed to each other is just as important,” McCarter said. “I admire that they have been able to get through so much stuff together.”

While Dean’s time at the food mart eventually ended, he went on to build a successful business in real estate. He owns his own real estate company and is still involved in it today.

Meanwhile, Jackie spent years tirelessly working at the bank to help make the family finances work.

The North Carolina natives began their family tree with two children: a daughter they named Anna, and a son they called Adrian.

“Both my grandpa and my nana would have given anything they had for their kids,” Holland McCarter said. “They worked hard to make sure their family and kids were successful.”

Already successful parents, Dean and Jackie became grandparents of four grandchildren that they know and love. Raygan, Harley, Holland, and Austen are proud to call Dean and Jackie their grandpa and nana.

The extended family has many amazing memories together. Family trips to Disney World in Florida stand out as Dean, Jackie, and company enjoyed the rides, events, and experiences offered at the happiest place on earth.

“Those family trips to Disney World were so memorable,” said McCarter.

In addition, the family has gone to the beach for Thanksgiving the past couple of years and had fun together in the sand.

“We just love each other and those trips to the beach have been great times to be together as a family,” McCarter said.

Over 53 years of marriage, Dean and Jackie have enjoyed the Disney trips, the beach days on Thanksgiving, and many more experiences.

When they are not working, they have a number of hobbies they have enjoyed, including traveling outside of their hometown of Dallas.

They have gone near and far, staying in a variety of places. They have gone camping with some regularity, as they enjoy the outdoors and being in nature together.

“They just love spending time together,” said McCarter.

While at home, the couple likes playing board and card games with their many friends. Over the years, there have been very sweet memories of friendly conversation and competition around the game table.

In the end, a lot has changed, and a lot of things have happened since Dean and Jackie were first introduced at the Carpenter’s Food Mart. That moment was a turning point that led to the connection of two lives and the creation of a wonderful family.

“How they got together and started our family deserves to be celebrated,” said McCarter. “We love them, we love their story, and we wish them many more years of memories together.”