Charles Turner Skinner, Jr.

Charles Turner Skinner, Jr., 85, of 724 Whedbee Drive, Hertford, NC, died Thursday, July 4, 2013 in Vidant Chowan Hospital, Edenton. Mr. Skinner was born in Perquimans County and was the son of the late Charles T., Sr. and Mary Helen Newbold Skinner. A retired manpower advisor with the North Carolina Employment Security Commission, he was a member of Hertford United Methodist Church, where he was Christened on July 1, 1928 and joined in May of 1938, had served on the Board of Trustees, the Council on Ministries, as the Church Historian, and as President of the Jake T. White Men's Fellowship. Becoming an Eagle Scout in February of 1944, he later served as Scout Master of Troop 155; enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in August of 1945, was a veteran of both World War II and the Korean War, and served in the 2nd Marine Air Wing in Puerto Rico. A member of American Legion Post 126, he had served as Post Adjunct, Post Commander, Post Historian, and was the 1st Legion District Commander. Other community involvement included a term as a member of the Perquimans County Board of Commissioners, 36 years as a member of the Hertford Fire Dept., having served as chief for over 10 years, was the County Fire Marshall for 21 years, was Fire Service Training Coordinator for College of the Albemarle for 5 years, and a Fire Service Instructor for 10 years. A charter member and past president of the Perquimans County Jaycees, he was a member of the Masonic Blue Lodge #30, was appointed the Perquimans County Historian in 1990, and had served as Sgt. Major with the Hertford Fife and Drum Corps. For these and other community services, Mr. Skinner was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Governor Beverly Perdue in 2011. Surviving are his wife of nearly 54 years, Thelma White Skinner; two sons, Shelton Skinner and wife Theresa of Cary, and Richard Skinner and partner Jonathan Babson of Raleigh; a granddaughter, Leslie Skinner, and a great-grandson, Carson Sisk, both of Mount Pleasant, SC. A memorial service will be held Sunday at 2:00 p.m. in Hertford United Methodist Church by the Rev. Larry Bowden and the Rev. Corbin Cherry. A private burial will follow in Cedarwood Cemetery. Friends may join the family in the fellowship hall of the church immediately following the service, and all other times at the residence. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to either the Hertford United Methodist Church, 200 Dobbs Street, or to the Hertford Volunteer Fire Dept., P.O. Box 32, both in Hertford, NC 27944. Online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.