Charles Elbert Page

March 24, 1928 –

The Reverend Dr. Charles E. Page served the Gibsonville United Methodist Church from 1973 through 1977.

►I’m Ted Bales, a member of the church’s History Committee, and I can’t help letting my personal feelings for Charles influence the writing of this biography. Charles was pastor at Gibsonville when we moved here in 1975, and when we needed a new church home. We felt such a warm welcome from the church and from Charles and his wife, Catherine that we stayed – for 34 years so far. Charles and I were friends outside the church and were members of the Rotary Club together. My wife and I visited them in their home today (Friday September 4, 2009) and he gave me the source material from which I will paraphrase for this biography. One item of note that doesn’t appear in the biography is a relationship between Charles and one of our current pastors, Jonathan Marlowe. Shiloh Methodist Church in Granite Quarry, NC, the church that Jonathan just moved from to Gibsonville, was Charles’ very first appointment. But the coincidence goes farther; Charles was in seminary at Emory University with Jonathan’s father.

►The biography

Charles Page is a native of Wilson, NC. Born on March 24, 1928, he was the eldest son of Charles Ross Page and Elizabeth Davis Page. Charles is a highly educated man earning:

Bachelor of Arts Degree (B. A.) in Social Studies and English from Atlantic Christian College in 1949

Master of Divinity Degree (M. Div.) from Emory University in 1955

Theology Doctorial Degree (Th. D.) from Geneva Theological College in 1974

He also did additional study at Duke University, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and the University of London (Royal Holloway Collage).

He served:

Shiloh Methodist Church in Granite Quarry, NC from 1955 through 1959

Cold Springs Methodist Church in Concord, NC from 1960 through 1961

Saint Paul’s Methodist Church in Greensboro, NC from 1962 through 1965

First Methodist Church in Salisbury, NC in 1966

Stokesdale Methodist Church from 1967 through 1968

Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church in Winston-Salem, NC from 1969 through 1972

Gibsonville United Methodist Church from 1973 through 1976

Commonwealth United Methodist Church in Charlotte, NC from 1977 through 1982

First United Methodist Church in Charlotte, NC from 1983 through 1987

Mouzon United Methodist Church in Charlotte, NC in 1988

After he retired in 1989, Dr. Charles Elbert Page went on serving six years as a Protestant Chaplain for the Holland American Cruise Lines.

During these 41 years of service, he and Catherine (whom he married in 1952) raised two children, Rebecca (now Mrs. E. W. Buchanan, Jr.) and Susan (now Mrs. Richard D. Kane).

In addition to his ministerial duties, he was a member of the Conference Board of Missions and the Board of Discipleship (Evangelism Section); Institute of Homiletical Studies. He was a contributor of articles to The Christian Advocate and The Church School Magazine. He is the past President of the Charlotte District Council on Ministries.

In addition to his duties in the church, he has been active in many civic, patriotic, and fraternal organizations.

Within the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), a fraternal society for the male lineal descendants of patriots who served to promote the goals of freedom and independence in the American Revolution:

Former president and former Chaplain of the Mecklenburg Chapter of the SAR.

Chaplain of the North Carolina Society from 1986 through 1988 and from 1990 through 1992. Former Chairman, N.C. Society Eagle Scout Committee.

And has served on two national committees.

Other Memberships:

N.C. Genealogical Society

Mecklenburg Genealogical Society

Rotary Club (Past President, Gibsonville Club)

National Congress of Patriotic Organizations.

Charles and Catherine live in Greensboro, NC.