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Charles L. Stoney, 60, of Bluffton SC passed away at MUSC in Charleston, SC on Thursday, July 29, 2021. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Allen Funeral Home of Beaufort. We welcome you to provide your thoughts and memories on our tribute wall.
Deacon Charles Leonard Stoney
“ BIG C.” “Charlie”
A Time to Be Born: Deacon Charles Stoney was born to William Stoney and the late Georgia Ann Mitchell Stoney on February 25, 1961, in Bluffton, South Carolina.
A Time to Build: He was educated at M. C. Riley Elementary School and H. E. McCracken High School. As a high school student Charles received culinary training at the Career Center of Beaufort and went on to be a chef. He put his skills to use in Sea Pines and at the Port Royal Clubhouse on Hilton Head Island; at many years at Kentucky Fried Chicken and picked up the nickname “The Colonel,” and worked at Outback Burger in Bluffton.
A Time to Serve: To serve is to perform duties or services for another person or organization. Charles chose to serve at an early age. Choosing to serve in the Kingdom of God, he joined First Zion Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend R.M. Youmans and was baptized as a young boy. He was ordained as a deacon as a young man by Pastor Charles Epps, Sr. at Zion Baptist Church in Jersey City, New Jersey. While in New Jersey, he also served as a crossing guard.
Charles returned to Bluffton and continued his life of service. At First Zion he served as a deacon, in the Men’s Ministry and sang songs of praise and worship with The Male Chorus, The Voices of Zion and The Dynamic Christian Aires of Bluffton, South Carolina. He loved the hymn “Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior” and “Won’t it be Grand.” He drove the church van to get members to and from church. “Bear one another’s burdens and so fill the Law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2) His service extended into the community, visiting the sick, sitting with bereaved families, taxiing people wherever they needed to go, work, school, school activities and more.
A Time to Enjoy: Deacon Stoney loved music, particularly, gospel music. His collection of gospel music is extensive and diverse. If there was a “singing” in the area he was going to be there. He personally experienced the anointed voices of many local and national gospel artist and groups. He also loved watching, particularly basketball and football. While his service was an act of obedience to God’s command, Deacon Stoney enjoyed “doing unto others.” He enjoyed hanging out with friends at Morris Garage and Towing and even running errands to pick up parts for the business.
A Time to Embrace: Deacon Stoney embraced God and he cherished the love of God. Charles cherished friends and family. He loved his mother and “daddy” and he shared a special relationship with his step mother Sarah. He loved his siblings. He loved his nieces and nephew. He held them close. He didn’t mind being the one to reach out, calling some, every single day, others every other day or once a week. Simply to hear their voices and just to “see how you doing.” He always asked about his nieces and nephew and wanted to be sure they were doing ok and what they were up to. He embraced his neighbors, often stopping when he passed their homes.
A Time to Weep: Charles was preceded in death by his mother, Georgia Ann Stoney, his maternal grandparents, Joseph and Minnie Mitchell, his paternal grandparents, Lymas Stoney and Anna Gadson; eights aunts, Daisy, Minnie, Christina, Victoria, Geneva, Florence, Alice, Henrietta and four uncles: Edward, Joseph, Jr., Benjamin, and Matthew
A Time to Mourn: He leaves to cherish his memory, a devoted father, his “daddy,” William Stoney (Sarah), Mobile, Alabama; one brother, Nathaniel Stoney (Juan), San Diego, California; two sisters, Vascola Stoney, Houston, Texas and Sandra Elaine Stoney, San Francisco, California; four aunts: Sadie Bradley of St. Helena Island, Lucille Jones and Laura Bush, Bluffton and Juanita Parlor, Wesley Chapel, Fla.; two uncles: James Mitchell, Windsor, SC and Charles Parlor, Wesley Chapel, Fla.; three nieces, Jennifer Abolade (Jide), Houston, Texas, Mellina Stoney, Denver, Colorado and Shakema Stoney, San Francisco, California; one nephew, Darren Renard Brooks, Houston, Texas; two great nephews, Deron Nathan Grant, San Francisco and Nasir Marcel Abolade, Houston, Texas; a great host of cousins and friends and a community with which he shared a great love!
A Time to Dance: And now we dance a dance of praise, a dance of thanksgiving for a life well lived, a life of selflessness and obedience, a life the likes of which we should all aspire, devoted to loving God and loving our neighbor as ourselves!