Charlie Edward Wilson

1952 - 2025

Charlie Edward Wilson

July 12, 1952 - December 3, 2025

Charles Edward "Charlie" Wilson could tell a great story, and he had a seemingly endless supply of them. He collected his stories over an extraordinary life that included years of mission work in Spain and more than a decade spent in China teaching English and providing support and encouragement to the burgeoning Chinese Christian community.

Charlie's storytelling ended Dec. 2, after a brief and challenging illness. He was 73.

Charlie was born July 12, 1952, in Greenville, Ala.. He was the devoted son of Woodrow and Lilly Kennedy Wilson. Charlie moved with his family to Thomasville, N.C., when he was 13. He earned a bachelor's degree in religion and Spanish language from Wake Forest University in North Carolina, but he never lost his love for Alabama football.

Charlie served as the first Journeyman to Spain for the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board. After returning to the United States, he attended the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., where he earned a Master of Divinity degree. In 1988, Charlie established the Cooperative Services International program, which provided English-speaking volunteers for universities in China. He led that program in country for 10 years.

After returning to North Carolina, he took on caregiving for his mother, aided in that role by his equally devoted spouse, Alice Stewart. They lived in Greensboro, where Alice worked as a professor and Charlie worked for the North Carolina Baptist Convention. He returned to school to earn a doctorate in leadership studies from North Carolina a&T State University.

In 2021, Charlie followed Alice to Knoxville, Tenn., where she had been offered a teaching post.

Charlie is survived by Alice; his brother, Jim (Karen) of Jefferson City, Tenn.; sisters, Jane Landrum of Hoover, Ala., and Ruth (Bob) Setzer of Winston-Salem, N.C.; sister-in-law, Kaye Wilson of Sedalia, Colo.; his uncle, Joseph B. Kennedy of Texas; five nieces and a nephew, Drew (Samara) Wilson, Stephanie Wilson (Glen Burns), Jennifer Landrum, Libby (Spencer) Jones, Amanda (Jason) Taylor, Whitney (Jay) Owen; four great nieces, seven great nephews, and countless friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Steve, and Jane's husband, John.

Even in death, he served others without reservation by indicating his wish to be an organ donor.

a celebration of Charlie's extraordinary life with be held in Greensboro beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at College Park Baptist Church, 1601 Walker Ave. Officiating will be Rev. Mera Cossey Corlett and Rev. Michael Usey, both fellow seminarians and longtime friends of Charlie.

Those who knew and loved Charlie are encouraged to visit the Berry Highland Memorial website to leave a story, memory or words of gratitude for a life well-lived in service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Charlie's memory to the Pat Summitt Foundation (<a href="http://patsummitt.org" target="_new" rel="nofollow">patsummitt.orga>) or any organization supporting immigrants, refugees, or international Christian service.