Upon moving with his family to the Deep Creek area in 1944, Charles, known to friends and family as Buddy, attended Deep Creek High School, graduating as Valedictorian of the Class of 1953. He entered the United States Army in February 1958 and over the course of the next two years traveled across the Midwest, including stop in Chicago, Ill and parts of Iowa. Upon his discharge, he returned home to work on his family’s farm before working in Monroe, NC as a television repairman. He was later employed by West Knitting Mill in Wadesboro, NC as a truck driver until his retirement in 1996.
In addition to repairing televisions in his spare time, he also loved gardening, doing word search puzzles, fixing things around the house, watching television, supporting his favorite sports teams, UNC Basketball, the Boston Celtics, and the Oakland (now Las Vegas) Raiders, and spending time with his family. He was a lifelong member of West Deep Creek Missionary Baptist Church, attending regularly until his health failed.
On September 5, 1965, Charles was united in Holy Matrimony to Christine Bennett. She remained faithfully by his side for 57 years, until he drew his last breath. To this union, three children were born. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by six sisters, Clara McFarlin, Allie Lee “Doll” Bittle, Martha Jefferson, Eva Patton, Ada Fincher, Sarah D. Huntley and four brothers, John Robert “Son”, D.P., Roy, and Theodore Mills.
In addition to his wife, Christine, he is survived by his children: Mrs. Leticia Chevon “Cookie” Hines (Murray) of Charlotte, NC, Mr. Charles Everette “Bobby” of Chapel Hill, NC, and Dr. Daphne Christine of Hopewell, VA; two grandsons: Mr. Murray Langston and Mr. Desmond Trevon Hines, both of Charlotte, NC; sister, Mrs. Louida McNeil of Bladensburg, MD; a special nephew with whom he was raised as a brother, Mr. John (Glenda) Rollins of Woodbridge, VA; two brothers-in-law, Mr. John Little of Charlotte, NC and Mr. Graylen Bennett “his nurse” of Peachland, NC; one sister-in-law, Mrs. Bernice (William) Anderson of Charlotte, NC, a special goddaughter, Ms. Malia Little of Randleman, NC; special cousins, Mrs. Katherine Ealy of Vero Beach, FL and Mr. Thomas (Ella) Livingston of Dale, TX, and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
The Homegoing Services will be on Friday, January 6, 2023, 2:00pm, West Deep Creek Missionary Baptist Church, Wadesboro, North Carolina. Interment will be in the family plot of the Church Cemetery.
The public viewing will be on Thursday, January 5, 2023 from 3:00-5:00pm at Smith's Funeral Home.