Talmadge Clingman Cheek Jr.

Rev. Talmadge Clingman Cheek, Jr., 64, of Hickory, passed away October 25, 2015 at Duke Medical Center in Durham. Born April 26, 1951 in Davie County, NC, he was the son of the late Talmadge Clingman Cheek, Sr. and Dorothy Irene Shore Cheek.

Talmadge was a graduate of Catawba College in Salisbury, NC, and was veteran of the US Air Force, having served during the Vietnam War as a Russian linguist. Following his military service he worked with the US Postal Service for over 20 years, retiring as postmaster in Woodleaf, NC.

Talmadge was a former member of First Baptist Church in Hickory, NC, where he was active as a Sunday School teacher, member of the choir, and deacon. He became an ordained minister in the United Methodist Church and was currently serving as Pastor of Burke Chapel United Methodist Church and Mt. Harmony United Methodist Church. Talmadge had served as part-time Chaplain of Frye Regional Medical Center and Catawba Valley Medical Center and had led worship services and a bible study at Kingston Residence in Hickory, NC. He had also taught Sunday School and sang in the choir of First United Methodist Church in Hickory, NC. His greatest love was spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.

Talmadge is survived by his wife of 44 years, Jennie Phillips Cheek of the home; sons, Jarrett Cheek and wife Leslie of Mebane, NC, and Jason Cheek and wife Kirby of Cranford, NJ; sisters, Cindy Foster and husband David of Mebane, NC and Sherry Roberts of Boone, NC; grandchildren, Morgan Cheek, Shelby Cheek, Jordan Cheek and Sidney Cheek.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 31, 2015 at First United Methodist Church in Hickory with Rev. Craig Langston, Rev. George Williams, and Rev. Jeff Sweeney officiating. Burial will follow in Catawba Memorial Park in Hickory, NC.

The family will receive friends from 12:45 to 1:45 PM Saturday, at the church, prior to the service.

Serving as pallbearers will be: Jarrett Cheek, Jason Cheek, Britt Page, David Berry, Frank Souther, Randy Phillips, Mike Watson, Dr. Dan Kiser, and David Foster.

The family would like to invite former choir members to join the choir of First United Methodist Church for the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to: Burke Chapel U.M.C. or Mt. Harmony U.M.C., P.O. Box 157, Icard, NC, 28666, or to First United Methodist Church, Music Memorial Fund, 311 3rd Ave. NE, Hickory, NC, 28601.