- Date Of Birth: November 28, 1935
- Date Of Death: November 18, 2022
- State: North Carolina
Charles Lee Campbell, Jr., 86, from Springmoor Retirement Community in Raleigh, NC passed away on Friday, November 18, 2022.
Born on Thanksgiving Day in 1935, Charlie was the son of Charles Lee Campbell, Sr. and Margaret Singletary Campbell of Clarkton, North Carolina. The family was active in the Clarkton Baptist Church where Charlie received 13 years of perfect attendance pins. He attended Clarkton Public Schools where he participated in FFA and 4-H Club Public Speaking contests, winning district awards. He was President of the school student body during his senior year in 1954. Charlie received his Associate Degree from Campbell Junior College in 1956 and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Education from NC State University in 1959.
Charlie’s distinguished professional career began as a Marketing Specialist with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture. In 1960, he joined the National Guard and was stationed at Fort Jackson, South Carolina as an instructor in the Basic Army Administration School for six months.
In the early 1970’s, Commissioner Jim Graham and Markets Director Curtis Tarleton named Charlie the head of Promotion of North Carolina Agricultural Products.
In 1978, Charlie joined Clyde Rudd and Associates, headquartered in Greensboro, as Raleigh office manager for selling Tab color-coded filing systems and Westinghouse cubicle office furniture. After ten years of outstanding success, Commissioner Graham asked Charlie to return to the Department of Agriculture as Director of Agricultural Development and Coordinator of the County Fair program. At Charlie’s retirement, the North Carolina County Fair Association presented him with their highest award, “The Holmes-McBride Award”, for his dedicated service.
During Charlie’s retirement, he and his friend John Prince, Jr. were partners in commercial construction. John wrote a book about their deals and friendship. The book is titled My Very Best Friend Charlie Campbell.
Charlie was active in the North Raleigh Exchange Club for over 50 years. He served as Club President during 1970-71 and 1992-93. He was State President from 2000-2001. He and his wife, Goldie, sold salted-in-the-shell peanuts in the Education Building at the NC State Fair for 50 years. This Exchange Club project totaled over one million dollars for charity.
Charlie was a Mason and was initiated into the Raleigh Hiram 40 Lodge in October 1973. He was also a charter member of the Amran Shrine Temple.
Charlie and his wife Goldie’s passion for travel was satisfied for several years through international trips as participants in the Raleigh Friendship Force program. They were able to experience life with families in England, Australia, Holland, Switzerland, and Norway, as well as travel to Denmark and Scotland.
When they were growing up, Charlie’s family and Goldie’s family were close friends. Both families attended Clarkton Baptist Church and so did the children. The families often got together at their homes for socializing. Charlie and Goldie played monopoly and never dated anyone else since their first date at ages 15 and 16. Charlie went to Campbell College, then NC State, and Goldie went to Meredith. They were married on June 27, 1959 after both had graduated. Charlie has been a member of the NC State Wolfpack Club since his graduation. He and his family, along with the John Prince family, have gone to most of the Wolfpack basketball games in Raleigh every year.
Today, Charlie and Goldie are active members of Bay Leaf Baptist Church. Charlie has been a Deacon and taught a young boys Sunday School Class, while Goldie has been active in Girls Acteens.
Charlie and Goldie bought property at Ocean Isle Beach many years ago and built a house there, where they took family and friends for many fun weekends.
Upon retirement, Charlie and several friends established a mobile storage business, Pack-Rat. This company has storage units that can be taken by truck to your home, office, or warehouse for safekeeping. They are now located throughout the United States.
Charlie was preceded in death by his parents, Charles L. Campbell, Sr. and Margaret Singletary Campbell of Clarkton, NC.
Charlie is survived by his devoted wife, Goldie, of 63 years and their 3 children: daughter Cynthia L.
