Lillian's family initially disapproved of her choice of a career in nursing, but she continued her training and became very successful, earning the respect of both the black and white communities.

After some sisters at the local church organized a mission trip to Africa, Carter became upset saying that there was plenty to be done in the US before traveling to another country.

After the death of her husband from pancreatic cancer, Lillian Carter left for Auburn University where she assumed the role of housemother of Kappa Alpha Order, a fraternity of 100 members at the time.

[2] A year after completing her service at Auburn, Carter managed a nursing home in Blakely, Georgia.

Carter later became a social activist, working for desegregation and providing medical care to African Americans in Plains, Georgia.

After completing a psychiatric evaluation, she received three months of training and was sent to India where she worked at the Godrej Colony 30 miles (48 km) from Mumbai.

Emory University established the Lillian Carter Center for International Nursing in honor of her work in India.

The Atlanta Regional Office of the Peace Corps has named an award in her honor for volunteers over 50 who make the biggest contribution.

[citation needed] In 1977, Andy Warhol created a portrait of her, and it has since been on display at the Carter Center in Atlanta, Georgia.

"[6]In 1977, Lillian Carter appeared in a cameo as herself in the made-for-TV movie Lucy Calls the President starring Lucille Ball.

Carter herself succumbed to breast cancer that metastasized to the bone a month later on October 30, 1983, at age 85 in Americus, Georgia.

Carter was buried in a simple six-minute ceremony at Lebanon Church Cemetery, on November 1, 1983, next to her husband, who died 30 years before her.