Charles Norman Speight, 96, died peacefully at his home surrounded by his devoted family on Saturday, May 23, 2009. Visitation was at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bill LaMotte on Monday, May 25, from 5 pm to 7 pm. A service of celebration of life was held at Eastminster Presbyterian Church at 3 pm on Tuesday, May 26, 2009. Following the service the family received friends in the church parlor. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel is assisting the family.

Born in Roanoke Rapids (Rosemary Section), North Carolina on July 11, 1912, Mr. Speight was the fourth child of Charlie Harvey and Annie Frances Marks Speight. He was married to his beloved wife (his bride), Pauline Rivers Brewer Speight, for almost 70 years (September 12, 2009).

He is survived by their daughter, Paula Speight LaMotte and her husband, Francis William (Bill) LaMotte, Jr. of Columbia. He is also survived by their son, Charles Norman Speight Jr. and his wife Susan Barber Speight of Columbus, North Carolina.

Surviving grandchildren and great grandchildren are Francis William (Bill) LaMotte III and his wife, Caroline Brady LaMotte with their children: Caroline Carter LaMotte and Francis Brewer LaMotte; Paula LaMotte (Bunny) Peacock and her husband Thomas Harold Peacock and their children: Anna Francis Peacock, Charlotte Elizabeth Peacock, and Lucinda Louise Peacock; James Rawlings Brewer LaMotte and his wife, Melony Finger LaMotte with their children: James Rawlings Brewer LaMotte Jr. and Leyton Elliott LaMotte, all of Columbia, South Carolina; Stacey Speight Wiley and her husband, Robert Ashley Wiley and their children: Elizabeth Diane Wiley, William Nicklaus Wiley, Ashley Brewer Wiley, and Cecilia Clare Wiley of Raleigh, N.C.; Dawne Speight Perry and her husband John Todd Perry and their children: Alexandra Mayfield Bosch, John Christopher Perry, Parker Taylor Perry of Jamestown, N.C., Marks McInnis Speight, and Benjamin Carpenter Speight.

Mr. Speight is also survived by his sister, Josephine Speight Unglesbee and her husband Les, and brother William Payne Speight and his wife Shirley. He was predeceased in death by his siblings Harvey Wilton Speight, Howard Blackwell (Ted) Speight, Baciel Earl (Bill) Speight, Margaret Frances Speight Snyder, George Randolph Speight, and Mary Elizabeth Speight Ethridge. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews to whom he was deeply devoted.

Mr. Speight believed in doing things for the long term - life, marriage, employment, and the general enjoyment of all facets of life. Mr. Speight, along with his wife, joined Eastminster Presbyterian Church in 1950 and was quite active in the church until recent years. He was a member of the Session and served as tenor soloist for the church choir for over 40 years. He, along with Eugene Chase, was instrumental in beginning the Cremation Gardens on the grounds of the church.

After retiring from Tidewater Supply Company as an industrial and mill supply representative, he was associated for a short time with Bearing Distributors. After final retirement, he then became quite involved with various charitable endeavors. Mr. Speight was the last surviving founding member of the Columbia Golden K Kiwanis Club, which was established 31 years ago. Until recent months he served as their director of music. The club recently dedicated the new published song books to him. He was instrumental in beginning and continuing the Kiwanis Club work of gathering donations for Harvest Hope Food Bank for which he was honored. Mr. Speight was a board member for many years, and the Kiwanis Club honored him with the George F. Hixson International Service Award several years ago.

There were five siblings in Mr. Speight's original family. As a young boy, he learned hunting, fishing, and love of wildlife from his father and mother. The Roanoke and Chowan Rivers in northern North Carolina were a central point of activities for his family. His mother Annie died when Mr. Speight was nine years old. His father later married Elma Ray Frances, and they had four additional children.

After high school graduation, Mr. Speight moved on to Chapel Hill and the University of North Carolina where he played quarterback on the UNC football team. While in Chapel Hill, he lived and worked with Dr. Nathan, a local veterinarian to help with college expenses. This experience was instrumental in working with animals throughout his life.

Music was a major part of Mr. Speight's life. He and his wife, Pauline, were high school sweethearts, and performed in many high school musicals together, each playing lead roles. Even without professional training, he

became an accomplished

tenor soloist, and as a young man, was selected as the number one tenor soloist in the state of North Carolina. He sang in hundreds of weddings throughout the southeast including his granddaughter's wedding when he was 85. He was tenor soloist at Trinity Cathedral before his marriage in 1939.

Mr. Speight was a man of numerous talents and had an unrelenting curiosity for all things. He never met a stranger and treated all people with great respect. He had a personable manner and a keen interest in other people. In addition to hunting and fishing, he banded birds for the South Carolina Department of Wildlife in order to track migratory trends. He was also an FCC registered amateur radio operator and an avid gardener developing many varieties of camellias. He also played the piano by ear and entertained his great grandchildren as they danced to his music.

Mr. Speight had many expressions for living one's life, which he instilled in his children and grandchildren, "Be nice to people on your way up, because you never know who you will meet on your way down." "It's okay to have brass, as long as you keep it polished," and "Be safe."

The family expresses deep appreciation to the Episcopal Home at Still Hopes for their professional and compassionate care for Mr. Speight. They are especially appreciative of the Home Solutions Partner who provided additional friendship and care, specifically, Ricki Smith, Mireille Mekina, and Lawrence Gillespie. They would also like to thank Palmetto Health Richland Sitting Service for the extraordinary care and demonstration of their mission of faith, shown by their bedside prayers and care, especially to Lugenia Samba who provided a ministry of music.

Honorary Pallbearers were the Columbia Golden K Kiwanis Club.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Eastminster Presbyterian Church Choir, Harvest Hope Food Bank, the Columbia Golden K Kiwanis Club, or a charity of one's choice.

Please sign the online guestbook at www.dunbarfuneralhome. com.