Archive for June, 2008

Dateline: Fuquay-Varina, NC

Charles Turner Revels, Sr. passed into eternity on the afternoon of June 2, 2008 to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His faith has sustained him through out his life until the very end. His life long desire was that his family, friends, co-workers and acquaintances know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. He loved God, his family, his church, his friends and the community of Baptist Grove, the only place he called home for his 85 years.

Charles is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Annie Laurie Johnson Revels and children Charles Turner Revels, Jr. and wife Diane, Joseph Kent Revels and wife Brenda, Christopher Todd Revels and wife Belinda, Jeffrey Delacy Revels and wife Darlene, and Julie Merle Revels Dickens and husband Davey. Also survived by brother Bobby Joe Revels and wife Ruby, 12 loved grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, 3 nephews and 4 nieces.

Charles served his country during WWII in the US Navy, stationed at Camp Perry in Williamsburg, Va. After the war he completed his education graduating from LaFayette High School in 1947.

After high school Charles begin a very successful business career first as a farmer and then adding timber cutting to his skills. Through his timber cutting business he met Wayne Stone and in 1961 he and Stone founded Stone and Revels Repair Service. A couple of years later Stone moved to his family farm and Charles took full ownership of the business. In 1967 he made his brother Bobby Joe Revels and nephew Billy Hipp partners in the business and changed the name to Revels Tractor Co. During the fall of 1969 Revels Tractor Co. moved to it’s current location on north Main Street in Fuquay-Varina and became a John Deere dealer.

Charles Revels had the unique qualities in business of being a good and fair dealmaker with high integrity and compassion for the customer and his business partners. He believed in treating everyone fairly and doing what was right. During the farm boom of the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s Revels Tractor was recognized as on of the regions top performing dealers, winning numerous awards and John Deere sales programs. Charles was President of Revels Tractor Co. Inc. from it’s inception until 1994 and retains ownership in the company today. Revels Tractor Co. recently merged the agriculture and landscape business with 4 other John Deere dealers in NC to form a new organization called Quality Equipment. Revels Turf and Tractor remains separate as the John Deere golf and turf equipment distributor for the Carolinas and Virginia. Both businesses have their home office in the Fuquay-Varina location.

Charles loved God and his church. He was a member of Baptist Grove Baptist Church since his youth and held several leadership roles in the church as deacon, trustee, usher, men’s fellowship leader and served as Chairman of these groups many times during his life. He was a constant visitor in the community, many times with the current preacher but also with others or on his own. Always active at the Baptist Grove barbecues and different fundraisers he was a big believer in giving back to God, the church and those in need of a helping hand. It would be hard to find anyone that has ever lived in the Baptist Grove community that had not been invited to church at least one time by Charles Revels.

His hobbies were gardening and baseball. Most everyone in the community and at Revels Tractor Co. received vegetables from Charles’ garden. He would always over plant and felt like nothing should go to waste so he found someone who would take it. His first love was always farming and gardening was close enough to keep him satisfied once Kent took over the farming. Baseball was his second love, first playing it and then coaching little league and later softball as his children grew. He and Annie Laurie spent many hours watching all 5 of their children play sports and watching sports on TV. He was an avid Boston Red Sox fan who was only satisfied when Boston won the World Series.

Charles was a Christian husband, father, grandfather, brother, boss, business associate and friend who always showed compassion and concern to all. He will be sorely missed.

The family will receive friends at Baptist Grove Church on Wednesday night from 6-9 PM and other times at the home on 166 Revels Road. The funeral services will be held on Thursday morning at 11:00 AM at the church with burial immediately following in the church cemetery.

Funeral arrangements will be entrusted to Williford Funeral Home in Fuquay-Varina. In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the Baptist Grove Building Fund in memory of Charles Revels at 6140 Christian Light Road, Fuquay-Varina, NC, 27526.