Obituary of Charles Reid Perry III

Charles Reid Perry III went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and his beloved wife Patsy, on Tuesday, June 29, 2021, with his loving family by his side.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Reid Perry II and Josephine Hester; sister, Joan Wyatt; brother-in-law, Calvin Wyatt; brother, John G. Perry; and nephew, Jack Perry.

Charles was born in A­­sheville, NC, on December 2, 1933. He grew up in Winston Salem, NC, where he graduated from Reynolds High School and then graduated from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill, where he was on the swim team. Shortly after his second child was born, he and Patsy moved to Charlottesville, VA, where they lived until 1974. After several years of vacationing on Hilton Head Island, SC, Charles and Patsy decided that they would be moving with the family there permanently. Hilton Head Island is where he lived the remainder of his life. Charles was the owner of Perry Printing Co. with his family, and after retirement from the printing industry, he pursued real estate. Hilton Head Island was more than a home to him, it was his community, and he loved it so.

Charles loved to be involved, and involved he was. He was an active member, board member, and served as President of the Hilton Head Island Rotary Club. He was an International Paul Harris Fellow and District Secretary for the District Governor in South Carolina. He was a Past Board Member for Habitat for Humanity, Alzheimer’s Respite (now Memory Matters), Life Member of the Art League of Hilton Head, and a Business Advisory Board Member of the Community Playhouse (now the Art Center of Coastal Carolina). He saw a need for the youth on the island and was one of the Founders of the Island Youth Center (which is now the Island Recreation Center), where he served 2 terms as President. He was the First Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Commission for the Town of Hilton Head Island, which included getting the Crossings Park built, and was honored by Peoples for Parks and the Town by naming one of the ball fields at the Crossings Park the Charles R. Perry Field. In 2010 he was honored to be the Grand Marshall of the Hilton Head Island St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Charles had a voice that was meant to be heard. He took that voice, and his love for the community and golf, and became an announcer on the ninth green of Harbour Town for the RBC Heritage. He became the Chair of the Announcers and continued to announce for well over 30 years. It is possible that people actually came to the tournament to see him and to hear his stories about the pros. He made many friends year after year at The Heritage.

Most importantly, Charles loved his Lord and his family. He was a Charter Member of Providence Presbyterian Church and served as Clerk of Session. Charles served as an Elder, Deacon, Stephen Minister, member of the Pastor Search Committee, Development Group, Mentor to College Students, and more. He was selected Man of the Year by the Low Country Men of the Church. You could always find him in his seat (yes, his seat) at Providence on Sundays. He was a blessed man with a large family whom he loved dearly. He goes by many names: Charles, Dad, Chas, but his favorite was Big Daddy. Most all occasions, holidays, and anything else he deemed a big deal were spent with family. Plain and simple, he loved life and all in it.

Charles is survived by his children, Kim (John) Bowen of Ridgeland, SC, Reid (Janet) Perry of Hilton Head Island, SC, Cheryl (Bill) Chandler of Columbia, SC, and Alan (Kathy) Perry of Hilton Head Island, SC; his grandchildren, Angel (Tyler) Wakeman, Steele (Mary) Chandler, MaKayla Chandler, Beckman (Tom) Apsey and Chas (Taylor) Perry, Austin, and Christian Perry, Rushton (Frangelica) and Eden Bowen, Emily and Ashley Gray; great-grandchildren, Olive Wakeman, Rhodes Wakeman, Tess Parker; sister-in-law, Joan Perry; nephew, Christopher Perry; niece, Ann Wyatt (Roger) Johnson; and Calvin (Jan) Wyatt Jr.

A Celebration of Life will be held Thursday, July 8 at 1:00 p.m. at Providence Presbyterian Church (171 Cordilla Parkway, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928). The service will also be live-streamed online at the church's Facebook page: www.facebook.com/CauseGodJoy. A reception will follow in their Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made in Charles R. Perry III's name to Providence Presbyterian Church (171 Cordilla Pkwy., Hilton Head Island, SC 29928) or Island Recreation Association (20 Wilborn Road, Hilton Head Island, SC 29926.)

Arrangements have been handled with honor by Simplicity: Lowcountry Cremation & Burial Services in Bluffton, SC.