Charles Stewart Gatwood, 88, passed away on Friday, Sept. 18. Born in Albion, IN on May 31, 1921; he was the son of the late Charles Adam Gatwood and Nettie Mae Stewart Gatwood.

He served his county during WWII in the US Army in Alaska and the European theater. He married Mary Carolyn Threatt of Kershaw, SC. He received a Bachelors of Music degree in music education and a Masters of Music degree in music theory at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN.

After graduation he became Chairman of the Music Department at North Greenville Junior College in Tigerville, SC. He served as Minister of Music at First Baptist Church, Greer SC, and at Snyder Memorial Baptist Church, Fayetteville. He was the Associate Director of the Church Music Department of the Baptist Convention of NC 10 years and then served another 10 years as the director.

During his tenure at the NC Baptist State Convention, he formed and directed the “Singing Churchmen”, a men’s choir consisting of Ministers of Music from across the state. He organized the Cary Community Chorus and directed their performance of “Messiah” for 30 years. He was invited to teach several semesters at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX; Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest; and Campbell University in Buies Creek. He was ordained as a Deacon at First Baptist Church, Cary and had been an active member of Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, Raleigh for many years.

He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Carolyn; daughter Ann Blackmon and husband David of Kinston; son Elden Gatwood and wife Jo Anne, of Raleigh; daughter Susan Snyder and husband Tim of Hollidaysburg, PA; grandchildren Kelly Blackmon, David Blackmon and wife Anne, Ashleigh Gatwood, Aaron Gatwood, Jackie Williams and husband Greg, John Snyder and wife Kennedy, Patrick Snyder and Daniel Snyder; and great-grandson Aidan Blackmon.

A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, Sept. 21 at 11 a.m. at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Siler Garden – c/o Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh or the American Cancer Society.

Condolences may be sent to www.brownywnne.com.