Caleb “Cal” Faulkner was born to Alfred Lee and Liza Johnson Faulkner May 10, 1934. His mother Liza died when Caleb was two years old and his father Alfred later married Maude Deshazo, who raised Caleb to become a very fine man. Caleb loved and cared for his parents in their older age until they died. Caleb was preceded in death by brothers John, Hampton, and Alfred Jr, and his only sister Sallie Jay.
Caleb “Cal” Faulkner - our Hero and “Ole” Soldier - entered the military in 1954 and retired in 1984 as a U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major. He consistently received outstanding reviews from his superiors, including Gen. William Westmoreland and Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf. He received 18 awards during his career, including the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal, Combat Infantryman's Badge, and Master Parachutist Badge.
Caleb worked for MONY Financial Services Mutual of New York for a year as a Field Underwriter/Financial Advisor and then joined the Employment Security Commission of N.C. in Asheville, N.C. as a Disabled Veterans Outreach Specialist in 1986. He was awarded the James C. Gates Distinguished Service Award by the Veterans of Foreign War at their annual convention in Washington, D.C. in 1991, where the speaker of the hour was General Colin Powell. Caleb won this award for being the best Veterans Employment Representative in the Nation.
Caleb came to work in the Raleigh Central Office of Employment Security Commission of N.C. as the Assistant Director of Veterans Employment Services in 1992. Shortly after that he assumed the title of Director of Veterans Employment Services for the State of North Carolina until he retired from N.C. State Government in October, 2004, having worked a total of fifty years, eight months, eleven days. Caleb was awarded “The Order of the Long Leaf Pine”, the highest civilian award, on September 4, 2004 under Governor Mike Easley. God truly blessed Caleb to do his best in all things. His motto in life was "You Gotta Want To Do It!" Caleb earned his Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies after finally retiring and wanted to pursue his Masters but his health would not allow him.
Caleb loved the Lord and served Him faithfully. Every day Caleb would say “God is Good”. In 2012 Caleb was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with pulmonary embolism. He had more clots in his lungs than he had oxygen. The emergency room doctor stood over Caleb and said he was trying to figure out how this man could still be alive. That day his wife Marie said “God is Good” for Caleb.
Caleb is survived by his best friend of over 30 years and wife Marie, a daughter Senetra Beatty (husband Curtis, daughter Breyana), a son Steven Washington (wife Junelle, three sons TaeQuan, Jimmie, Steven Eric, two daughters Akeara and Cayla), his brother Burnes Faulkner of Graham, two brothers in law Artie and Franklin Johnson of Wilmington, three sisters in law Linda MacRae and Brenda Brown (Arthur) of Wilmington, NC, Christine Faulkner of Roxboro, NC, special friends James and Arizone Brown of Chesapeake, Virginia, and George Clark of Culpepper, Virginia; a host of family in Roxboro NC, friends, and wonderful neighbors on Brewster Drive in Raleigh. N.C.
A funeral service will be at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, July 9, 2016 at Cary First Christian Church in Cary. Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the church and following the repass. Burial will be at a later date in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be in his name to Amedisys Hospice 220 New Fidelity Court Garner, NC 27529.
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