Grady A. Church

Grady A. Church, 79, of Morganton went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, January 12, 2015.  Born in Statesville, NC on March 1, 1935, he was the son of the late Coyte W. Church and Vagie Martin Church.

After graduating from high school, Grady left for the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry-dock Company, where he graduated with a four year degree in shipbuilding.  He then worked for Youth for Christ in Hampton Roads area in Virginia before becoming director of the junior ranch at River Valley Ranch in Maryland.  He and his wife then became cottage parents of the Baptist Children’s Home, serving in Thomasville, Pembroke, and Chapel Hill.  While at Pembroke and Chapel Hill he completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees.  Grady’s family then moved to Morganton and he became a professor at Western Piedmont Community College.  While at Western Piedmont he completed an EDS degree at Appalachian State University.  Grady retired from Western Piedmont after twenty-six years of service.

Mr. Church was a member of the Gideon organization for thirty-four years.  He served in many offices of the Gideons as well as Area Director.  He visited many local churches and shared reports for the Gideons.  He wanted to share the gospel with as many as possible and lived a life of service to his Lord and Savior.

Grady was a member of Burkemont Baptist Church.  He served as a trustee, deacon, and Sunday school teacher.

Grady loved carpentry and woodworking.  He also took pleasure in farming, hunting, and fishing.  He loved time with his family and helped make and build many things for his family.

Mr. Church is survived by his wife of 58 years, Loretta Butcher Church of the home; his children, Gayle Prewitt and her husband, Harley, and Phillip Church and his wife, Lee, all of Morganton; grandchildren, Kelly Blaylock and her husband, Andrew, of Charleston, SC and Justin Prewitt, Jacob Church, Gabriel Church, and Lauren Church, all of Morganton; siblings, Roy Church, Frank Church and wife, Martha Sue,  Lucy McCarthy, LouAnn Jones and her husband, Parks, Alice Absher and her husband, Arlie, all of Statesville and Antha Reid and her husband, Michael, of Wilkesboro, NC; a sister-in-law, Laura Church of Warrenton, VA; and several surviving nephews and nieces.

In addition to his parents, Grady was preceded in death by four brothers, Robert Church and his wife, Irene, Paul Church and his wife, Colleen, David Church, and William Church and his wife, Betty; and an infant daughter, Rachel.

The funeral will be held at 2:30 p.m., Wednesday, January 14, 2015 at Burkemont Baptist Church with Dr. David Mills, the Rev. Eddy Bunton, and the Rev. Mike Chandler officiating.  Burial will follow in the church cemetery.  The family will receive friends at the church from 1:00 until 2:30 p.m. prior to the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to Burkemont Baptist Church, 4668 Burkemont Road, Morganton, NC 28655 or to Gideons International, P.O. Box 678, Morganton, NC 28680.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.