Charles Wilson, one of the early graduates of Reformed Theological Seminary and the organizing pastor of Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church in Matthews, NC, passed away early Saturday morning from complications from a recent bout of cancer and a long battle with heart disease. He was 67. Visitation and Memorial service scheduled.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Ruth Ann (Jent) of Waynesboro, Mississippi and 6 children, 5 daughters and 1 son (in that order). Two of the girls are married to PCA Ministers – Greg Marshall (Ruthanna) and Gene Case (Rachel), and a third (Reba) is married to the son (Tim) of TE Larry Ball. Charles’ only son, Daniel, is the pastor of a Reformed church in the town of Nelson in New Zealand (just across the channel from Wellington).

Charles was born and raised in Burlington, NC and then Jacksonville, NC before entering college at North Carolina State University. He transferred to Belhaven College, graduating in 1967. He completed an MDiv at Reformed Seminary in Jackson in 1971 and was ordained by Tuscaloosa Presbytery of the PCUS and served from 1968-1971 at Linden Presbyterian in Linden, Alabama. In 1973 he moved to First Presbyterian of Aliceville, Alabama and he and the church joined the PCA when it was formed.

In 1974 he moved to the Charlotte suburbs, and alongside the church planting director for Central Carolina Presbytery, Bob Wilcox, served as the Organizing Pastor of Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church. In 1982 to 1986 he served as pastor of the small Trinity Presbyterian Church in nearby Lancaster County, SC and was honorably retired due to disability from heart problems in 1986. He and his family have been living in the Charlotte for over 35 years.

Since Charles had long ago decided to donate his body to science, there will be no formal viewing. A family visitation is planned for Tuesday evening, February 1, from 6:00 – 8:00PM at the Sovereign Grace Presbyterian Church located at 3326 Archdale Drive in Charlotte (call 704-553-9600 for directions and details. A Memorial Service is being planned for Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church in Matthews, NC for 3:00PM on Wednesday, February 2. The Reverend Cecil Williamson who was Charles’ close friend in the early years as they pastored nearby churches in Alabama will preach and Dr. William Barcley, pastor of Sovereign Grace – home church of Charles and Ruth Ann – will assist in the service.

A memorial fund has been up in his honor for Sovereign Grace Presbyterian Church, which had been his church home for more than a decade. The address is: 3326 Archdale Drive, Charlotte, NC 28210.

You can read the journal of Charles’ final months and also leave a sympathy note at: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/charleswilson