Charles Allen Gay Jr.

Mr. Charles Allen Gay, Jr., of Blythe, Ga., passed away peacefully, Tuesday, Aug. 22, at Augusta University Medical Center after a brief illness. He was 84. The family will welcome all friends from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Friday, at Chance & Hydrick Funeral Directors, 2502 Richmond Hill Road, Augusta, Ga., 30906. A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 26, at Bath Presbyterian Church in Blythe, Ga. Charles was born July 2, 1939, in Jefferson County, Ga., and was the son of Charles Allen Gay, Sr., and Hattie Summerall Gay. He graduated from Wrens High School in 1957 before entering the U.S. Navy for a four-year stint. He then fell in love with Marianne Trowbridge of Blythe, Ga., the pair getting married in 1962. They had three sons: Charles Harper "Chuck," William "Lee," and Christopher Allen. Charles believed in giving back to the community, serving the Augusta area as an Elder at Bath Presbyterian Church, as a member and Past President of the Augusta Shrine Club, as a Past Master of the Richmond Lodge #412 and was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason. He regularly donated to the Shepeard Community Blood Center, becoming a rare 50-gallon blood donor. Earlier this year, he reached his personal goal of making 100 trips as a Shriners Hospitals for Children "Road Runner," waking in the early-morning hours to transport children in the Augusta area (and as far away as Swainsboro) free of charge to and from hospitals in Greenville, S.C., and Cincinnati, Ohio. Charles worked in the insurance industry before switching to a career with the U.S. Postal Service in Hephzibah, Ga. In 2005, he retired as a carrier to help care for his triplet grandchildren. He adored all six of his grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Charles was loved by his family and friends, who will miss him greatly. During his life, he enjoyed taking trips with his friends Butch and Jackie Murdock, and he also enjoyed reading, watching the Atlanta Braves, taking care of his hair through various sprays and dippity-do hair gels, taking care of the grounds at Bath Presbyterian and the Augusta Shrine Club, and just laughing and having an enjoyable time being with friends and family. Some of those jovial moments took place at the Augusta Shrine Club, where Charles enjoyed performing as the nanny in the multi-year production of the hysterical play, the "Womanless Wedding." In addition to his parents, Charles was preceded in death by his brother, Billy, who was killed in action in the Korean War in 1951. Survivors include his beloved wife, Marianne; his sons, Chuck Gay of Wrens, Ga,; Lee Gay (Cassie) of Blythe, Ga., and Chris Gay (Risa) of Grovetown, Ga.; and grandchildren, Ashleigh Gay, Taylor Murphy (Barrett), Tyler Valero, Rachel Gay, Hannah Gay and Jefferson Trowbridge (J.T.) Gay. If so desired, memorials may be made to the Morris Slotin Travel Fund, P.O. Box 14147, Savannah, Ga., 31416. This fund is used to help with travel and accommodation expenses for families admitted to the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Also, memorials may be made to Bath Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 976, Hephzibah, Ga., 30815. Chance & Hydrick Funeral Directors, 2502 Richmond Hill Road, Augusta, GA, 30906. www.chanceandhydrick.com

Charles Allen Gay Jr.

July 2, 1939 - August 22, 2023