Charles Thomas Busby

   Charles Thomas Busby, 71, passed away on Friday, March 28, 2025, surrounded by family. Charles was born on May 6, 1953 in Salisbury, NC to the late Max Busby and Margaret Jarvis Busby. Charles was a compassionate and loving husband, father, grandpa and brother. Besides his wife, Carole Joy Bass of 41 years, Charles is survived by: two daughters, Carole Elizabeth Cummings and her husband Kelly of San Diego, CA; Sara Catherine Busby of San Diego, CA; sister Betty Cox and her husband Randy of Big Island, VA; and brother Jim Busby and wife Kathy of Wrightsville Beach, NC. Grandpa Cholly had two grandsons, Oliver and Owen. Charles was preceded in death by his two brothers Max Sanderlin Busby and William Jarvis Busby. 

   Charles graduated from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1975 with a degree in History and Philosophy. He then went on to Wake Forest University where he graduated with a juris doctorate in 1978. He was admitted to the North Carolina state bar in August 1978. He started his 47 year career in Plymouth, NC before moving to Edenton, NC to practice with his late brother, Max. He then opened his own law office where he practiced civil, criminal, family & real estate law. In 2006, he joined Ladd Gasparovic in Wilmington, NC where he practiced mostly real estate law. He later started his own firm, Bailey & Busby, PLLC with Stephen Bailey in Hampstead, NC where he practiced until his retirement in 2020. During his career, he served as a public defender and the city attorney for Edenton, NC. He was also a member of the NC Rotary Club.

   Charles and Joy began their life together in Rocky Hock, NC, spending over 20 years renovating an 1800s farmhouse and many adjacent barns and playhouses. Charles loved to build and use his hands, but family was always his number one priority. He spent his retired years building a barn and furniture made of driftwood at his favorite place in the world - on the Currituck sound. Charles spent his childhood summers swimming at Currituck with his brothers, sister and cousins and brought those same life experiences to his daughters and grandsons. He was an avid golfer and loved Tar Heel athletics. 

   Charles was a man of God and held strong to his faith all his life. He attended Hickory United Methodist Church in Chesapeake, VA and participated in Kairos Prison Ministry on and off for 31 years. 

   There will be a celebration of Charles’ life and shared memories on Saturday, April 5th at 2:00 p.m. on the waterfront at the Busby family’s cottage at 152 JBC Shore Rd, Currituck, NC 27929 followed by a time to visit with friends and family until 4pm. To honor his love for the Tar Heels, the family requests casual, Carolina Blue attire. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The North Carolina Coastal Federation at https://www.nccoast.org/give/ or The Nature Conservancy at https://preserve.nature.org/

   Miller & Van Essendelft Funeral Home and Crematory, 735 Virginia Road, is assisting the family with arrangements and online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.