[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 122 (Wednesday, July 16, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E682-E683]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING CHARLES PARSON GAYLOR, III

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DONALD G. DAVIS

                              of carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 16, 2025

  Mr. DAVIS of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the 
following obituary of Charles P. Gaylor, III.

                    Charles P. Gaylor, III Obituary

       Charles ``Charlie'' Parson Gaylor, III, a beloved husband, 
     father, grandfather, and dedicated servant to the Goldsboro 
     community, passed away on July 1, 2025, at the age of 75.
       Born and raised in Goldsboro, North Carolina, Charlie was 
     the son of the late Judge Charles P. Gaylor, Jr. and the late 
     Councilwoman Mildred Ellis Gaylor. A lifelong resident of the 
     city he so passionately served, Charlie's legacy is deeply 
     woven into the civic, legal, and cultural fabric of Wayne 
     County.
       Charlie graduated from Goldsboro High School in 1967 before 
     earning a double Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and 
     Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel 
     Hill. He went on to receive his Juris Doctor from the 
     Delaware Law School of Widener University in Wilmington, 
     Delaware.
       Charlie practiced law in Goldsboro from 1977 to 2008 and 
     went on to serve with distinction as a District Court Judge 
     from 2009 to 2022. Even in retirement, he continued to serve 
     as a recalled judge.
       His professional and civic contributions were extensive and 
     impactful. He held leadership roles in numerous 
     organizations, including serving as Chair of the Wayne County 
     Chamber of Commerce and the Wayne County Economic Development 
     Commission. He also served as the inaugural Chair of the 
     Wayne County Development Alliance. Charlie was a dedicated 
     member of the Wayne County Bar Association, North Carolina 
     State Bar, and North Carolina Bar Association. He was also an 
     avid supporter and past board member of the Foundation of 
     Wayne Community College, the Arts Council of Wayne County, 
     the Wayne County Public Library Foundation, the Downtown 
     Goldsboro Development Corporation, the Wayne County Historic 
     Association, the Military Affairs Committee of the Wayne 
     County Chamber of Commerce, and the Goldsboro Civitan Club.
       Charlie was passionate about historic preservation and 
     cultural enrichment, having served as President of the 
     Historic Preservation Society of North Carolina and as a tour 
     guide for the Goldsboro Union Station Project. His efforts 
     were pivotal in safeguarding the architectural and historical 
     heritage of the region.
       He also dedicated his time and leadership to a broad array 
     of community initiatives--rom small business development and 
     civic education to passenger rail service advocacy and 
     military appreciation events. Notably, he co-chaired the 1976 
     Wayne County Bicentennial ``Town Forum'' series alongside his 
     wife, Rhonda.
       Among his many accolades, Charlie was honored with the 
     Jaycees Distinguished Service Award, the Exchange Club Book 
     of Golden Deeds Award, the Gertrude S.

[[Page E683]]

     Carraway Award of Merit, and the prestigious Cannon Cup from 
     the North Carolina Division of Cultural Resources. He was 
     also the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the 
     Downtown Goldsboro Development Corporation and was inducted 
     into the North Carolinian Society, an honor reserved for 
     individuals who have rendered distinguished service to the 
     state.
       Charlie was a member of First Presbyterian Church of 
     Goldsboro, where he found spiritual grounding and community 
     fellowship.
       He is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Rhonda 
     McDonald Gaylor; his son, Charles P. Gaylor, IV and daughter-
     in-law, Sarah Gaylor; and his cherished grandson, Charles 
     ``Charlie'' Gaylor, V.
       A celebration of Charlie's life will be held Monday, July 7 
     at 11:00 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church of Goldsboro. The 
     family will receive friends following the service in the 
     church's activity center. A private burial for the family 
     will take place at Willow Dale Cemetery.
       In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First 
     Presbyterian Church, 1101 E. Ash Street, Goldsboro, NC 27530 
     or the charity of one's choice.
       Charlie Gaylor's life was one of selfless devotion--to 
     justice, to heritage, to education, and to the people and 
     places he held dear. His legacy lives on in the institutions 
     he shaped, the community he strengthened, and the countless 
     lives he touched through a lifetime of committed service.

                          ____________________