Charles Gibson Buie, Jr.

With grace, dignity and love, Charles G. Buie, Jr, died peacefully, May 20, 2022, with his loving family by his side at Scotia Village, a retirement community located in Laurinburg, North Carolina. He was 93 years old.

Mr. Buie was born, December 30, 1928, to Charles G. Buie, Sr. and Jessie Thomas Buie in Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlie was born a natural leader both in his personal and professional life. In his adult years, he looked at organizations through eyes that saw opportunities to make improvements. He was gifted with the ability to use resources to improve the efficiency of almost any business or organization. And that was just one of the many gifts that Charles Buie possessed.

Mr. Buie grew up in Biscoe, North Carolina, a small farming town located in Montgomery County, where he attended his first years of high school. He spent his senior year and later graduated from Oak Ridge Military Academy and then entered North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina in the fall of 1947. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Textile Management in 1951.

He was a multi-sport athlete in high school and played only intramurals at State, where he was active in the U.S. Army Reserve Officers Training Corps program. After graduation, 2nd Lt. Buie spent most of his two-year military obligation in Korea and mustered out as a first lieutenant in 1954.

Just prior to leaving for Korea, Mr. Buie married Peggy Poole (now deceased), of Clayton, NC. The Buie’s had four children: Charles G. Buie, III, Evelyn B. Shytle (Chip), Clifton P. Buie (Angell) and Frank T. Buie (Angie).

Years later, after Peggy Buie’s passing, Charlie married Ann McCall, originally from Laurinburg, North Carolina. Ann was a loving wife to Charlie for 16 years, and was by his bedside at the time of Mr. Buie’s passing.

The union of Ann and Charlie added two step daughters to his family:Vivian Sidden (Mark) and Ashley Mabes (J.C.), all of Florence, South Carolina, whom he cared for deeply.

Charlie had a long and exceptional career in the textile industry. He held multiple management positions early in his professional life. But in January 1967, he and a master mechanic, Don Poe, started Charles Craft, Inc., that would later grow to over 1,000 employees and operate five manufacturing plants.

As Founder, President and CEO of Charles Craft, Inc., Mr. Buie was well known to visit each associate often and would annually present a birthday card to each with a Susan B. Anthony gold dollar coin inside. He made the commitment to meet and get to know each of his associates on a personal and professional level.

He was also known to be a staunch advocate for his open-door policy. Any employee of Charles Craft could see Mr. Buie about anything personal or professional at any time. Mr. Buie developed excellent relationships, and was thought-of very fondly by his associates.

Mr. Buie served business and industry as past President of the North Carolina Textile Manufacturers Association, and sat on the Executive Committee of the NC Citizens for Business and Industry, an organization that published a monthly business magazine and represented the well-being of businesses and industry throughout the state of North Carolina.

Mr. Buie is a past president of the Laurinburg-Scotland County Area Chamber of Commerce, Scotland County United Way, and twice president of the Laurinburg Rotary Club and was a Paul Harris Fellow, recognized by the Rotary Club as its highest donor award. He also served as a past member of the Executive Board for Wachovia Bank.

Mr. Buie was proud of his accomplishment in attaching the rank of Eagle Scout, Scouting’s highest achievement award.

He is a former chairman of Scotland HealthCare System Board of Trustees and a past trustee of St. Andrews University, both located in Laurinburg.

He is a past member of the Executive Committee of Scotia Village Retirement Community and held multiple leadership positions at his beloved Laurinburg First United Methodist Church.

Several other memberships and affiliations that meant the world to Charlie were; meeting for breakfast with his Breakfast Club, a group of men who met together for an early breakfast for many years. Another group that was very special to Charlie was being a Charter member of the RSVP Supper Club that met monthly and shared Rare Steaks at Various Places for over 50 years. He was also very blessed by participating in his Emmaus Reunion Group that met and prayed together for many years prior to his passing.

He also adored his children, in-laws, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His happiest moments were evident when surrounded by family, dining together, playing games, attending sporting events, traveling together to his beloved vacation home at Ocean Isle Beach, and visiting and laughing with family and friends.

Charlie, affectionally  known as PaPa by his grandchildren, is survived by his wife Ann McCall Buie; his children: Charles G. Buie, III, Evelyn B. Shytle (Chip), Clifton P. Buie (Angell), Frank T. Buie (Angie); Step Daughters, Vivian Sidden (Mark), Ashley Mabes (J.C.); grandchildren: Kitch Deaton (Grant), Mary Elizabeth Peacock (Brian), Will Shytle, Katie Gardner (Matt), Munroe Lippard (Luke), Jackson Medlin, Alex Medlin, Charlie Buie, Carson Buie, Thomas Buie, and Isabel Buie; Step grandchildren: Elis Sidden, Zack Sidden and Scott Masterson, Sisters: Martha B. Tyson (Vernon: deceased) and Sally B. Markham (Jack). He also loved and embraced eight great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews as well.

Charlie is preceded in death by his first wife, Peggy Poole Buie, and sister Beth Buie Griffin.

A memorial service will be conducted on Tuesday, May 24, at 2 p.m. at Laurinburg First United Methodist Church with the Reverend Jonathan Jeffries and the Reverend Bobby Tyson officiating. Visitation of family and friends will be held immediately following the memorial service in the Fellowship Hall at the church. Charlie will be laid to rest in a private ceremony at Hillside Memorial Park in Laurinburg.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Laurinburg First United Methodist Church, 101 West Church Street, Laurinburg, NC 28352.

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