‘Our very own local hero,’ 103 year old WWII pilot dies at Macon hospital
A World War II veteran who lived to see 100 — and then some — died at a Macon hospital Monday.
Charles G. Speight, 103, died at Atrium Health Navicent in Macon, according to his obituary from Brannen-Nesmith Funeral Home. Speight was a Navy fighter pilot in WWII, flying missions from the decks of aircraft carriers Yorktown and Lexington.
Speight married Patricia “Patsy” Holliman, his high school sweetheart, in 1944. He was a lifelong resident of Unadilla, about 40 minutes away from Macon.
“Together, they built a life in Unadilla filled with faith, family and community,” his obituary says. “As devoted parents, they never missed a school event, a ball game, or a church program, always present with love and encouragement.”
Speight involved himself in a lot of different organizations: He joined other family members in running Unadilla Wholesale Company, was a member of the Unadilla Lions Club and Dooly County Chamber of Commerce, and was director and served in other capacities at Exchange Bank of Unadilla, Citizens Bank and State Bank & Trust.
He taught his local Sunday school for 60 years as well, which was later named in his honor, according to his obituary.
Speight was also a frequent visitor of his local library. The Elizabeth Harris Library, a branch of the Lake Blackshear Regional Library System, said in a Facebook post Thursday that Speight was driving himself to the library at 100 years old.
“He was 100 years old at the time and told me he had multiple sets of car keys hidden in his house that his family did not know about,” the Facebook post said. “He was always so funny and charming and a wonderful storyteller. Our very own local hero. Rest In Peace and thanks for your service to our community and our country. You will be missed by so many!”