Faith Carter loves Mathews County, and her broad, welcoming smile conveys that to everyone she meets.

And with 30 years of experience cleaning local homes, businesses, churches and clubhouses through her business, Carter’s Cleaning Service, Carter has met a lot of people.

“My life has been different,” she said, “but one of my joys is meeting people.”

A Mathews native, Carter said she started cleaning at a young age, working at the old Horn Harbor Nursing Home, then moving to other nursing homes and facilities throughout the Middle Peninsula, Northern Neck, and the Peninsula. All the while, she was operating her own private cleaning business on the side.

Carter said she felt like she learned the most about the cleaning business when she trained at Patrick Henry Nursing Home in Newport News, where they had strict standards and good leaders who taught not only how to clean but also what products to use.

While at Patrick Henry, Carter had her first experience teaching her c...