Chestley Hyatt, Jr

Chestley Julian “CJ” Hyatt, Jr

Passed 01/22/2021 at Forsyth Medical Center – He was born 03/03/1926 in Blenheim Township – Marlboro County SC.  The son of Chestley Julian Hyatt, Sr. and Marie Jackson Hyatt, he had one brother, Monroe Louis Hyatt (Odessa) and two sisters, Sallie Jane Sligh (Hasting) and Clara Catherine Stanfield (John).  Upon being educated in the public schools of SC and NC, he entered the US Army Air Force in 1943 and served as a Flight Engineer and gunman aboard the B-17 and B-29 during WW II.   Leaving the Air Force, he attended The University of NC at Chapel Hill, graduating in 1952 with a BS degree in Business.  Working first at CIT Credit and Sears Roebuck & Co., he then started his own real estate firm, Hyatt Realty Co., in 1957.  As one of the oldest members of the Winston-Salem Board of Realtors, now WSRAR, he served on several committees at the local and state level and was Vice President of the local association.  He operated his company until his retirement in 2006.

In 1958, he married Shirley Ann Wyatt Hyatt and they were married for 54 years until her death in 2012.  Being predeceased by his wife and siblings, he is survived by one son, Wade Julian Hyatt; two loving grandchildren, Andrew Julian Hyatt (Viaynet) and Ashley Nicole Hyatt; daughter-in-law and caregiver, Leigh Walker Hyatt; and many nieces and nephews.

Mr. Hyatt was a member of the American Legion, past member of the Sertoma Club and a long-time ex-officio member of the Roddick Sunday School class of Knollwood Baptist Church, where he became a member in 1959.  From his early days there, he dearly loved and appreciated all its members and seldom missed a service, taking pride in his attendance record.  Mr. Hyatt was a lifetime member of the UNC Alumni Association and the Elks Lodge.  Being very active in NC politics, he served as an officer in several capacities, including Vice Chairman of NC Democratic Party and was very active in several political campaigns over the years.

In addition to his involvement in real estate, Mr. Hyatt was an avid outdoor advocate who liked hunting and fishing.  He enjoyed gardening and growing vegetables to give to his neighbors and friends. Even though his education was in Business, he was fond of history and prided his knowledge of world, national and state history, attending several History Studies.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Knollwood Baptist Church, 330 Knollwood St., Winston-Salem, NC 27104 or Fork Baptist Church, 3140 US Hwy 64 East, Mocksville, NC 27028.

The family of Mr. Hyatt wish to thank Gloria and Jimmy Ford and the staff of Mallard Ridge Assisted Living for their care of him over the past 8 years and the staff of Forsyth Medical Center during his final days.