Charles Steven Atwell

CHARLES STEVEN (CHARLIE) ATWELL GARNER CHARLES Steven Atwell, 65, passed away in his sleep at his home in Garner, NC, on May 5, 2018. Charlie was born in Iredell County, NC, on October 10, 1952, and grew up in the Coulwood neighborhood of northwest Charlotte, NC. As a teen, Charlie was an outstanding Boy Scout and competitive swimmer and he loved (until the day he died) physics, astronomy, geology and archeology, but struggled in school with what is now known as attention deficit disorder. His life changed when he taught himself to play a guitar, and his musical talent immediately became obvious. Coming out of West Mecklenburg Senior High School, he was recruited by East Carolina University to swim on their swim team, then after less than a year of college at ECU, was recruited back to Charlotte by band-mates who needed him to be their guitarist launching a professional career in music that spanned over 45 years. As a musician, Charlie was a particular and demanding perfectionist. He played all over the southeast and came to know nearly every professional player in the Carolinas. He played with bands too numerous to name, and made true friends everywhere he went. He had the conviction to live his dream and had a rich life in doing so. He never worked a day in his life when he was playing music, because he so loved what he did for a living. He also loved his children, as any father does, but it showed in his case more than most. He regularly took them camping and was always both a student of science and nature and a teacher of most any subject to anyone willing to learn (and especially to his kids, even when they weren't so willing). He loved riding his Harley-Davidson, and like most guys who ride for so many years, he was a somewhat-accomplished Harley mechanic. He was genuine, caring and giving. Charlie was preceded in death by his father, Charles Evans Atwell, originally of Iredell County, and by his sister, Allison Dale Atwell, of Lake Norman, and is survived by his three children, Joseph Charles Atwell, Rachel Dianne Atwell, and Shelly Marie Atwell, all of Johnston County, by his mother, Lavon Boyd Atwell, originally of Iredell County, by his brother, Joseph Stanley (Stan) Atwell, and his wife, Jill Allen Atwell, of Browns Summit, and by their daughters, Claire Atwell of Durham, and Hayley Atwell, of Wilmington. A celebration of Charlie's life will be held at Christ United Methodist Church at 8020 Bellhaven Boulevard, Charlotte, NC on Sunday, May, 13, 2018, at 3 p.m. The family asks that any memorials be made to Triad Musicians Matter, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit corporation that provides financial support to Triad North Carolina musicians in cases of illness, accident, death, or displacement from home.