THE STORY OF CHARLES

94 and looking for more! These words can frequently be heard from a man that you may know as Charles, Charlie, Daddy, Granddaddy Charles, Ole Granddaddy, or even “The Singing Senator.” His favorite name, however, is “Child of God,” a name he’s proud of and grateful for. Here, at his home church of more than 60 years, he is a friend, choir member, prominent member of the Men of the Church, and more. Our love for Charles and the sharing of his talents runs deep among our congregation.

Born on January 4, 1932, Charles was the 8th of 9 children born to Jim and Lizzie Albertson on Old Chinquapin Road. He came from a close-knit farming family who worked hard, helped their neighbors, and attended church at Bethel Presbyterian every Sunday come rain or shine. That’s just who they were. His love for music began right there in church as he participated with most all the other local children in the children’s choir. 

Growing up in a large family was a blessing to Charles. There was always work to be done when the children got home from school … working in their large garden, taking care of hogs and mules, milking cows. These chores were part of everyday life back then. Dressed in hand-me-down clothes he also found time to play ball, whether it was an official game of the school basketball team, some Sunday afternoon baseball, or a backyard game of football with all the boys around, using a sock full of other socks as a ball. 

Charles attended Beulaville School with his siblings, where almost every one of them drove the school bus one year or another. During school, he’d walk across the road during the day to take guitar lessons from Mrs. Thigpen, a blind guitar teacher. While Little Brown Jug was the first song he mastered, it was far from being the last. Before graduating from high school, he joined his first band with Monroe Smith and his brothers. Charles remembers playing for folks to dance at a house on Highway 50, and afterward a hat was passed around for a collection. The band members shared it, and Charles came home with his first musician’s salary of 44 cents!

After graduating from high school Charles spent a little time working for Stroud Construction in Wallace and then on his 19th birthday he, along with his brother Hallie and a few other locals, joined the US Air Force. He spent 21 days at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas sleeping out on a football field, under a gym and then under tents, because the barracks were full with so many enlisting at that time. He continued training in Georgia and stayed in the Air Force for about a year and a half. He enlisted for four years, but with aging parents and two of his brothers also in service, Charles was allowed to return home and help on the family farm. 

Farming for his dad was appreciated but wasn’t Charles’ idea of the best job to have! A short-term job offer at the Ag Extension office turned into a 30-year career for Charles and served him well until his retirement at age 55. His thoughts turned to state politics after retiring. When a NC House office became vacant, he ran and won. He served there from 1989–1992 and then served in the NC Senate from 1993–2010, representing us for 22 years up in Raleigh. 

Throughout Charles’ life of work, his love for music has always held a prominent place in his heart. He entertained folks from all over as a professional musician with the Charlie Albertson Show for 52 years. Singing at the Grand Ole Opry is dream for many, but became a reality for Charles a few times, once at the Ryman Auditorium and other times at the Opry House. Receiving a standing ovation for his rendition of “Tie a Yellow Ribbon” was a moment he’ll never forget. He recorded several albums in Nashville and did four tours overseas as professional entertainment for the Armed Forces, visiting 26 different countries. Music has led him to so many interesting places he never would have visited otherwise.

1n 1953, Charles’ longtime neighbor, Grace Sholar, became his wife. Their family expanded to include children, Randy and Pam, their spouses, Karen and Mike, and grandchildren Jordan, Amanda, and Karla. He now has six great grandchildren who also keep him young! He and Grace moved from Bethel Presbyterian to Beulaville Presbyterian in their 30s. Here, Charles has been a faithful choir member, Sunday School teacher, deacon, elder, and men’s leader from that time forward. His favorite Bible passage is from Luke 15, the story of the prodigal son. Two of his favorite hymns are “Softly and Tenderly” and “What a Friend we Have in Jesus.” You may notice a common thread woven through each of these: God loves us, and His grace is available to us no matter how far we stray. And if you know Charles, you know he has taken that to heart, because he shows that same kind of love and grace to everyone he knows.