Charles Henry Chewning Jr.

Charles was born to Charles Henry Chewning, Sr. and Mildred Ligon Chewning on September 2, 1939, in Bishopville, South Carolina. He spent his early years in Sumter, South Carolina before moving with his family to Durham, North Carolina.

Charles attended Durham High School and upon graduation, continued his studies at Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics. He was an active member of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and participated in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, both of which shaped his leadership style and lifelong commitment to public service.

Charles was then commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army Signal Corps. He was assigned to the Air Defense Command Center at Selfridge Air Force Base in Michigan, where he served on the management team overseeing defense communications operations during a pivotal time in U.S. military history.

Following his military service, Charles returned to North Carolina and began a career in the textile industry. He worked first with Burlington Industries and later joined Cotton Incorporated, where he contributed to the advancement of cotton research and marketing efforts both nationally and globally. In recognition of his significant contributions, Charles was inducted into the Cotton Research and Promotion Hall of Fame in 2018.

Charles was also deeply committed to his faith and community. While living in Durham, he was a devoted member of Duke Memorial United Methodist Church and an active member of the Durham Kiwanis Club, where he served as an officer and board member for several years. After moving to Raleigh, he became a faithful member of Edenton Street United Methodist Church, where he continued to serve and deepen his faith.

Beyond his professional and civic life, Charles nurtured a wide range of personal interests. He was an avid gardener who took great pride in cultivating flowers and landscapes. He had a creative spirit and enjoyed painting, often capturing scenes from nature or daily life. He also had a natural gift for mechanics and spent many hours working with his hands—repairing, tinkering, and building. These hobbies reflected his lifelong curiosity, patience, and appreciation for both beauty and craftsmanship.

Charles was a devoted husband to Marie Nord Chewning and a loving father to: Courtney Ann Chewning; Ashley Tillman and her husband, Terry; Joseph Sanger Jr. and his wife, Amy; Jason Sanger and his wife, Heather; Jennifer Fulkerson and her husband, Ryan; and Erica Christy and her husband, Brandon. He cherished his role as grandfather to Eli Tillman, Harper Tillman, Ella Tillman, Katie Sanger, Anna Sanger, Liam Fulkerson, and Sadie Fulkerson. He is also survived by his younger brother, Michael Ligon Chewning and his wife, Jackie.

A memorial service to celebrate Charles’s life will be held on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Edenton Street United Methodist Church, located at 228 W. Edenton Street, Raleigh, NC. Visitation will follow in the Garden Gallery after the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Duke Prostate Cancer Research or Edenton Street United Methodist Church.

To learn more about Charles’s legacy and view a video tribute, please visit his Cotton Incorporated Hall of Fame profile: https://www.cottoninc.com/hall-of-fame-inducte/charles-chewning/

Brown-Wynne, 300 Saint Mary's St., Raleigh, NC, is serving the Chewning family.