Obituary of Charles William Snipes

Charles William Snipes , 89, passed away at Alamance Regional Hospital in Burlington, on Thursday, March 12, 2015. Charles Snipes was born July 12, 1925 to James Mason Snipes Sr. and Carrie Teer Snipes. He was a life long resident of Orange County- the Orange Grove Community. He was a proud and dedicated farmer. He spent his life working alongside his family at Anilorac Farms in Hillsborough. Anilorac Farm is recognized as a North Carolina Century Farm from which he was extremely proud. His dedication to agriculture and stewardship of the land led him to participate in Orange County Soil and Water Conservation serving for over 20 years. Mr. Snipes proudly served as North Carolina Soil and Water Conservations President in the early 90's . Mr. Snipes was a life long member of Cane Creek Baptist Church where he was a deacon and served on numerous committees. He was a dedicated and proud member of the Cemetery and Historical Committee. He was the first Fire Chief of the Orange Grove Volunteer Fire Department. He was instrumental in the creation and development of the station. Through the years, Mr. Snipes loved softball and baseball. He enjoyed playing and coaching at White Cross and Oak Grove. He was an avid sports fan; his love of watching college sports, professional sports, but most of all his beloved Tar Heels kept him busy in retirement. His greatest joy in life was his family. He was married to his wife Frances Durham Snipes for 47 years before her passing. Together, they raised their family in his grandparents' homeplace which dates back to the 1840's. Mr. Snipes enjoyed spending time with his daughters; coaching them in sports and watching them raise their families. He was blessed with three granddaughters who he doted on. He loved watching his granddaughters play sports, play cards with them, take them to UNC games and most of all was proud of their close -knit bond. His "girls" were the loves of his life. He was surrounded by girls his whole life until the birth of his great grandson Nolan Austin. He was overjoyed at Nolan's birth that he proudly called "his boy." He proudly told everyone "he'd waited 85 years for Nolan". He loved spending time with his family, traveling with them, enjoying weekly family meals and seeing them on a daily basis. Mr. Snipes is preceded in death by his parents, "Daddy Jim" and Carrie Teer Snipes, his wife Frances Durham Snipes and brother James Mason Snipes. Mr. Snipes is survived by two daughters, Susan Nichols and husband Ben, Karen Sexton and husband Paul. Three granddaughters, Allison H. Nichols-Clapper and husband Hank. , Ashley Sexton Austin and husband Joshua , and Jessika Sexton. He is survived by four nieces, one nephew, several great nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family members. A special thanks to his home caregiver and friend Ruth Locklear and the Presbyterian Home of Hawfields where he resided for the last six weeks of life. His service is Sunday, March 15th at Cane Creek Baptist Church at 4PM by the Rev. David John Hailey and burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will follow at the Maple View Agricultural Educational Center, 3501 Dairyland Rd. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cane Creek Baptist Church Building Fund. Walkers Funeral Home of Hillsbororugh is in charge of arrangements.