Charles Rogers Gregory died on Tuesday, January 28, 2014 at Rex Hospital. He was born in Durham on October 25, 1930, the youngest of 9 children born to Edward Moore Gregory and Melinda Frances Rogers Gregory. He grew up in Durham, and graduated from Bragtown High School. Although he lost his mother at age 9 and his father at age 17, he was blessed with older brothers and sisters who loved and cared for him. After graduating from High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served during the Korean War. From an outfit of over 5,400 men, he was one of thirty soldiers chosen and sent to Kyoto, Japan where he served as a hospital medic. He attained the rank of Sergeant, and was honorably discharged having received, among other awards, the National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal and the Army Good Conduct Medal. After his discharge from the Army, he entered college at the University of Hawaii – Honolulu where he completed his first two years of school studying Organic Chemistry (frequently on a towel in the sunshine on Waikiki Beach). He then transferred to the only college from which he ever intended to graduate – the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and he remained an avid Tar Heel for life.
Professionally, he began his career working for Dunn & Bradstreet before becoming an insurance agent with Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company in Raleigh. Later, he became a self-employed independent insurance broker, Certified Life Underwriter and Chartered Financial Consultant (CLU, ChFC).
Charles is survived by his wife of 53 years, Sylvia Dawne Porter Gregory, daughters Sylvia Carla Gregory and Melinda Gregory Villena (Gabriel), both of Raleigh, along with two grandsons - his “day-brighteners” and “big buddies” - Gregory Brett and Steven Cole Villena. Spending time with Brett and Cole, following all of their activities, and acting as their head cheerleader brought him so much joy. He is also survived by a sister, Thelma Gregory Wheeler of Durham. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by brothers Louis, Edward, Ernest, Alton and Clyde, and sisters Lucille Gregory Horton and Edna Gregory Kellam all of Durham.
Visitation will be from 6:00 – 8:00 pm Friday, January 31st at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 St Mary’s St., Raleigh. A celebration of his life will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, Feburary 1st at North Raleigh Chapel 5421 Six Forks Rd. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery in downtown Raleigh.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Raleigh Rescue Mission 314 E. Hargett St., Raleigh, NC 27601, the Durham Rescue Mission 507 E. Knox Street, Durham, NC 27701 or to a favorite charity of your choice.
Condolences may be made through brownwynne.com
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