Charles Ray MacDonald

Born in Spartanburg, SC on April 28, 1929, “Charlie” was the son of James and Ethyl MacDonald. He grew up in Charlotte, NC and graduated from the McCallie School in Tennessee, after which he went to Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science. He returned to Charlotte where he was a chief estimator for J.A. Jones Construction Company. Through the young adult program at Myers Park Presbyterian Church, he met his beloved wife, Jeanne Harrison MacDonald and they married in 1954.

Charlie experienced a call to the ministry after several years in engineering, and so Jeanne and he faithfully went off to Union Seminary in Richmond, VA where he earned his Master in Divinity, and a Master in Theology. He later earned a Doctor of Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary. Being ordained into the Presbyterian Church in 1958, he had a wonderful career in ministry, serving the Fairfield and McCutchen Presbyterian Churches in Fairfield, VA; Hopewell Presbyterian Church in Hopewell, VA; Green Hill Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, DE; Kirk in the Hills Presbyterian Church in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; and as the Stated Clerk and business manager for the Presbytery of Detroit. In addition, he served as the Stated Clerk of the Lexington and New Castle Presbyteries. Upon retirement, he and Jeanne moved back to Charlotte, NC where he served as interim associate pastor at Sharon Presbyterian Church, Central Steele Creek Presbyterian Church, and interim associate pastor at Myers Park Presbyterian Church. One of Charlie’s great experiences in ministry was during his time spent as interim pastor at Caldwell Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, where he was instrumental in turning the church around and creating an open and inclusive environment.

Charlie has had a number of leadership roles in the communities he has served. His family is particularly proud of his courage during the Civil Rights Movement, when he received threats for his stances on racial justice. He served his local community in Wilmington, DE as the vice president of Limen House for recovering alcoholics and as the president of the Citizens Housing Alliance of Delaware.

Charlie loved playing the clarinet and played for the Charlotte Symphony when a teenager and later in the Roanoke Symphony as principal clarinetist, in addition to playing in the services of the churches where he served. His favorite piece was Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A Major.

Charlie is survived by his wife Jeanne Harrison MacDonald, whom he adored for 66 years of marriage. He is also survived by two children, Robert (Bob) MacDonald and spouse Peggy of Maryland, Susan Roddey and spouse Hunter of Charlotte; four grandchildren, Melanie MacDonald, Ross MacDonald, Harrison Roddey, and Caroline Roddey; his nieces, Cathy Sheely, Ellen Williams and Anne Rathbun; and his nephews, Henry Lafferty and John Lafferty.

He was preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Joan and by his brother, Jim MacDonald.

A service to celebrate Charlie’s life will be officiated by Rev. Dr. Deborah Conner and Rev. Dr. John Cleghorn and will be held at 11 am, Friday, February 5th at Myers Park Presbyterian Church, which can be attended by immediate family only. However, the family invites friends and family to attend through livestream at myersparkpres.org/live.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Myers Park Presbyterian Church, 2501 Oxford Place, Charlotte, NC 28207 or Caldwell Presbyterian Church for their Affordable Housing Initiative at 1609 East 5th Street, Charlotte, NC 28204.