October 26, 65, 
Charles Robert “Charlie” McClenny, 65, well known Mount Olive area farmer and businessman, passed away quietly and peacefully at Kitty Askins Hospice Center in Goldsboro on Friday morning, October 26, 2018.
A life long resident of the Smith Chapel community near Mount Olive and son of the late John E. “June” McClenny, Jr. and Katherine Cox McClenny, Charlie graduated from Southern Wayne Senior High School in 1971, and in 1973, he completed studies at the Agricultural Institute at N.C. State University. For a brief time, he was employed with Murphy Farms. Upon his return home, he joined his father, a life-long farmer, in partnership. Upon his father’s retirement, he became sole operator of the farm, which at that time, consisted of a few sows, a boar, and small acreage of tobacco, corn, soybeans, and wheat. Charlie supplemented his income in the early years by operating a neighbor’s combine. As years ensued, Charlie benefited from the knowledge and network of the friends he made through N.C. State and the Philip Morris Agricultural Leadership Program. Being an innovative farmer, he began to expand his farming operation, increasing his acreage from 50 to the present 2500. While providing for his family, he managed to “put back” as much revenue into the operation as possible to ensure its success. As his sons became interested in farming, they joined him and formed three entities—McClenny Farms, Inc., 4-M Hog Farm, and MAC Farms. Today, these operations are in the confident hands of Charlie’s sons, John and Murray.
Charlie was an advocate for agriculture in Wayne County and was heavily involved in its future. He served on the steering committee in the establishment of the Karl Best Agricultural Leadership Program through Wayne Community College. He also served on the planning board for the current Maxwell Agricultural Center and served on the board of directors of Wayne County Farm Bureau for several terms.
From 1983 until 2005, he served on the ASCS/ Farm Services Agency committee, was chairman of the board of Southern Bales Cotton Gin for 10 years, and served on the board of directors of Mount Olive Family Medicine Center, many years as chairman, and he chaired the building committee in bringing the vision of their present facility into fruition.
He was inducted into the Wayne County Agricultural Hall of Fame in 2014, and his receiving the G. Edgar Summerlin Firemen of the Year award in 2015 from the Wayne County Firemen’s Association was, perhaps, the recognition of which he was most proud.
Charlie, the “go-to” person in many of his involvements, was a life long member of Smith Chapel United Methodist Church and had served on and chaired many of its committees and had held many church offices. A long time member of Smith Chapel Volunteer Fire Department, he held the position of chief for many years.
Funeral services will be Monday, October 29, at 2 p.m. at Tyndall Funeral Home. Officiating will be Dr. H. Dennis Draper, Jr. with words of remembrance to be shared by Southern Bank CEO and long time friend, Grey Morgan. Interment will follow in Wayne Memorial Park. The McClenny family will be receiving friends at the funeral home on Sunday, October 28, from 5 until 7 p.m., and at the home at other times. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Smith Chapel United Methodist Church, c/o Mrs. Jay Sullivan, 4615 Giddensville Road, Faison, NC 28341, or Smith Chapel Volunteer Fire Department, c/o Amy H. Raiford, 113 East James Street, Mount Olive, NC 28365.
Charlie is survived by his wife of nearly 45 years, Sue Williams McClenny; twin sons and their wives, John Robert and Melinda Wrampe McClenny, and Charles Murray and Meredith Alphin McClenny, and five precious grandchildren, Gavin, Grant, Kase, Alayna, and Brody McClenny, all of the Mount Olive area; two brothers, Mickey McClenny and wife, Rhae, of Dudley, and J. W. McClenny and wife, Mary Lou, of Middlesex; a sister, Kathy McClenny Hines of Newport; his mother-in-law, Emma Jean Williams Scott of Goldsboro; and several nieces and nephews.
The family also wishes to acknowledge two individuals who provided exemplary care for Charlie during his days of poor health, Montrice Harvey and Jenny Dexter. A special thanks is also extended to Dr. Kevin Talton and the staff at Family Medicine Center for loving and treating Charlie as one of their own, and the staff at Kitty Askins Hospice Center for superb end-of-life support for Charlie. He received the best of care from the onset of his debilitating illness until the Good Lord called him Home.
Charlie McClenny’s life was truly one of service to his Lord, his family, and community.
He will be sorely missed.
A Tyndall Service.
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