Robert Griffin
AMERICUS — Neva Carter sits in her office chair surrounded by a dizzying array of papers, pens and pencils. “It’s chaos,” Carter says as she looks around at the gathered mass. Carter, along with her husband Larry are the owners of Neva’s Graphic Productions on South Lee Street. They started the business in 1982 in Stewart County where they were both born and raised. With a large part of their client base coming from Americus and Georgia Southwestern State University the couple decided to move their business to Americus and have been here ever since. “My husband studied printmaking at the college in Columbus, and decided that’s what he decided to do, so we just decided to jump in,” said Carter.
A day in Carter’s life can be described in one word: Chaotic. “It’s total chaos from the moment I walk in,” Carter says with a hearty laugh. “I’m busy with the phones and customers. The thing that takes up the most of my time, but I enjoy doing, is customers coming in looking for something unusual. We do a lot of paper printing, and I love it when someone comes in with something unusual to print, or looking for that one odd item.”
It’s the meeting new people and striking up conversations that make Carter enjoy each day she spends behind the desk at her job. “When I was younger I really wanted to be a teacher, and I think• that it is just because I wanted to be around people, so I think this job suits me well.” The only thing that can get to her sometimes is the pressure. “The timeframes and deadlines just make it tough sometimes,” Carter said.
It was the two women who influenced Carter the most that help her get through those stressful times. “My mother had a very large impact on my life and helps me out,” Carter said. “ Also one of my elementary school teachers Mrs. Anna. She was a firm woman, with a great heart and just an all-around good person.”
Whenever Carter finds time away from the shop, she enjoys walking with her husband and the occasional Stephen King novel.
