Charles Edward Massey

Charles Edward Massey, 83, passed away on Friday, January 8, 2021. A native of Wake County, Charles was born September 18, 1937, to the late David Henry and Laura Suitt Massey. He married Shirley Best on November 15, 1957, and she passed on September 4, 1996. He then married Judith Perritt Jones in October 2005 and she passed on April 30, 2010. Charles will lie in state on Tuesday, January 12, 2021, from 4-7PM at Bryan-Lee Funeral Home, Garner. The family will have a private celebration of his life followed by interment at Montlawn Memorial Park. Charles is survived by his children, Mark Massey and wife, Doreen (Garner), Susan Sain and husband, Terry (Kannapolis, NC), and Erin Jenkins and husband, Josh (Garner); grandchildren, Jeffrey (Garner), David (Raleigh), and Brandon (Japan) Massey, Crystal Sain (Kannapolis, NC), and Phillip, Carl, Jonathan, and Autumn Jenkins (Garner); great grandchildren, Charlie and Carson Massey (Garner); sister, Nancy Stuart and husband, Allen; brothers, Johnny Massey and wife, Carleen, Joe Massey and wife, Betsy, Lacy Massey and wife, Shirley, and Tracy Massey and wife, Rose; as well as several nieces, nephews, and cousins. In addition to his parents and wives, Charles was preceded in death by a daughter, Beverly, and a sister, Peggy Moore. Charles served in the US Navy from 1956 to 1960 on the USS Intrepid and USS Forrestal CVA. After his tours of duty with the Navy, he worked with Eastern Airlines for more than 20 years and served as a Union Representative of the AFL-CIO Union for Eastern Airlines for several years. He sold insurance for several years and later retired from this profession. He had a passion for the time he served in the Navy. Before retiring, he coached youth baseball for about 3 years and after the death of his last wife, he had a renewed interest in coaching. He umpired youth baseball and softball for the Garner Youth Sports League, ages 4-8, until his declining health prevented him from participating. Charles enjoyed the children’s enthusiasm for the sport, the American Past time, learning the real rules and giving them all a chance to succeed. Charles also loved cooking pigs and fish frys for his family gatherings. He had tremendous love for his siblings, in-laws, and all his cousins, nieces and nephews. Good ole’ family visits were one of his favorite things and you could write a book with all the stories that were shared. Family reunions, camping trips, and family trips, like to Disney World, were always welcomed and the more the merrier, family, and extended family always welcome. You could always talk politics with Charles, so much so that he became a friend to Governor Jim Hunt, Congressman David Price, and Legislator Dan Blue, to name a few. He loved to watch the UNC Tarheels play sports, especially basketball, and felt his devotion to them made him a true Tarheel. His grandchildren and great grandchildren lit up his life. Whenever one of them walked into the room he would beam with a huge grin on his face. He also loved Gaither Gospel Music and found a love for church in his later life, until his health prevented him from attending.