Charles Mark Massey

Mark Massey, 60, passed away peacefully on October 4th, 2023, with family by his side. He was a native of Wake County and a proud member of the Garner community.

Mark was the son of Charles Edward Massey and Shirley Temple Best Massey. He grew up with sisters, Susan and Erin, practicing for his then future career as a professional wrestler much like Ric Flair. He enjoyed growing up around many of his cousins and family members. He was proud to be a Massey but equally proud to be a Best.

Mark was a proud father and grandpa. He often bragged about all three of his boys’ lives. Whether it was about Jeffrey and Brandon’s service in the armed forces or David’s career he had built starting from the bottom. But when it came to his grandkids he would not stop smiling. Charlie and Carson kept him young and he enjoyed watching them grow in the different sports they chose. He was also so proud of his newest grandkids, Waylon and Lawrence.

Mark was a proud member of the Garner High School marching band where he began to build his love and pride as a Trojan. As he became a father, he was introduced to youth sports as he coached his oldest son, Jeffrey. From there he would coach his children and countless others for almost 30 years. His heart for service to the youth of Garner extended across almost every sport including baseball, softball, football, basketball and on. Through the years, he dedicated his spare hours to organizations such as the Garner Sports League, Garner Pop Warner program, and the Garner High School Trojan Club. When he was not coaching on the field you could find him behind a microphone or time clock at any sporting event at Garner HS. He believed that every kid should have the opportunity to chase their dream through sports, and if sports was not their dream, then they would learn valuable lessons to apply in any endeavor of their life. It is hard to put a total on the number of lives he touched through sports, but you can be assured that an athlete in Garner the past 30 years has been influenced in some way by his service. When recognized as one of the “Great People in Garner” he was asked what he had to add. He simply told parents to get their kids involved in something. Whether it was sports or science projects. Find something to be positive in their lives.

He loved to talk and did not know a stranger. If you met him in the aisle of the grocery store you knew you were going to be late for your next plans. Others were successful in avoiding him when they knew they couldn’t risk being in a lengthy conversation. His boys were often the ones asking him to end the conversation because two hours in Food Lion wasn’t fun for anyone.

Friday nights at Trojan stadium and Saturday mornings at Angie’s Restaurant will be different with him gone but his memory will live on with family, friends, and generations of youth that he crossed paths with.

Mark was preceded in death by his mother, Shirley Temple Best Massey; father, Charles Edward Massey, and sister, Beverly Massey. He is survived by his three boys, Jeffrey, David, and Brandon; grandkids, Charlie, Carson, Lawrence, and Waylon; and sisters, Susan Sain and Erin Jenkins. And countless family members in the Massey and Best family.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations in his memory to the Garner Pop Warner program or the Garner High School Trojan Club.

Go Trojans!