Charles Blaylock, Sr.

Mr. Charles Thomas "Pete" Blaylock, Sr., our beloved husband, father, and Papa, left his earthly body to go to his heavenly home on April 13, 2022. He was preceded in death by his father, Thomas Marion Blaylock, Jr., and his mother, Sybil Oakley Reid. He was born in 1937 in Oak Ridge, NC, in a log cabin beside Lan Blaylock's home on NC 150. As a young child he was placed in the care of his grandparents, Charlie "Pop" Oakley and Ruth Sands Oakley, due to the outbreak of WWII, and both his parents heading off to serve their country. After the war he moved to Norfolk, Va. to live with his mother and stepfather, Henry Abram Reid. He graduated from Princess Anne High School, and after a short time returned to his home in Oak Ridge where he met the love of his life, Rose. He and Rose were married just eight days shy of 60 years at the time of his death. He retired from the US Postal Service, at age 62, in 2000. He loved his old cars and trucks, old western movies, his recliner, and particularly loved putting together model cars and airplanes. He was always the tinkerer.

Along with Rose, he is survived by his children, Tisha Pruett (husband Jeff), Charles "Bud" Blaylock, Jr. (wife Stephanie), and Scott Blaylock (wife Cami).  He has eight grandchildren, Joshua Pruett (Caitlin), Jessica Atkins (Jon), Ashely Blaylock, Emily Grimstead (Duke), Sage Blaylock, Cameron Blaylock, Tanner Blaylock, Kaelyn Blaylock, and three great grandchildren, Aiden Pritchard, Sophia Atkins, and Eli Atkins.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, April 16, 2022, at Hayworth-Miller Kernersville Chapel with Rev. Charles Green and Rev. David Price officiating. Burial will follow in Eastlawn Gardens of Memory, Kernersville. The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 PM Friday evening at the funeral home.

Memorial donations can be made at Pete's request to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at 501 St. Jude Place Memphis TN 38105 or donors@stjude.com

A special thanks goes to the Rockingham County Hospice Gibson House staff for the compassionate care for our Pete in his final days. One of his favorite gospel songs was “The Far Side Banks of Jordan” sung by Jimmy Fortune. Please listen to that song and know that Pete awaits the arrival of his beloved Rose.

What a glorious day that will be.