Mr. Charles P. Carter

Mr. Charles Preston Carter Jr. peacefully entered eternal rest on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, surrounded by love in the comfort of his home.  He was born on September 13, 1951, to Charles Preston Carter Sr. and Maggie Bingham Carter in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  Charles was raised in Vauxhall, New Jersey and attended Hopewell Baptist Church. He was a 1969 graduate of Union High School. After high school he studied drafting at Union Technical Institute.  

Charles relocated to the Hampton Roads area and worked for several years at Newport News Shipbuilding as an Optical Engineer.  After Newport News Shipbuilding he became a member of the International Longshoreman Association Local 970 working as crane operator.  

Charles had a great love of music, which started when he learned to play the clarinet in junior high school. He was a percussionist for several local bands before impressively teaching himself the saxophone and flute. Coda, Studio One and Second Chance are just a few of the bands that he was a member of. Charles eventually started his one-man band music entertainment career, performing at special events and entertained residents at local retirement and assisted living communities. Charles recorded a CD titled “New Beginnings” in 2017.  

Charles loved expressing his faith through music.  Over the years he was a member of the music ministries at Faith Baptist Church and Full Gospel Kingdom Church before finding his spiritual home at Gethsemane Baptist Church. He never missed a Sunday until his Alzheimer’s disease prevented him from attending.  

In addition to his musical talents, Charles enjoyed playing table tennis and was a member of the Newport News Table Tennis Association.  He was also a lifelong fan of the Dallas Cowboys.     

Charles was preceded in death by his parents; his son Charles Robert Carter; his brother Kevin Carter; mother and father-in-law Robert and Georgia Boykins; sister-in-law Vicky Gough; and brother-in law Marvin Smith.  

He leaves to cherish his memories his wife of 45 years, Deborah Boykins Carter; his daughter Amber Carter Heath(Freddy) of Newport News; his grandchildren Freddy, Aubrielle, and Alivia Heath; his niece Shanda Anthony Rawles(Jeffrey); sisters-in-laws Crystal Leonard(John) and Shelonda Smith; brother in law Joseph Gough; nieces Tara and Jayla Gough, Jakyra Leonard, Brooke Smith; and nephew Marvin Smith Jr.  

Charles, your music, your spirit, and your love will live on in us all.  You will be deeply missed and forever cherished.  Until we meet again.

It is the desire of the Carter family that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers

The family of Mr. Charles P. Carter  has entrusted his final care to C. C. Carter Funeral Home.

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