Buddy Gray Creed

Buddy Gray Creed, 79, passed away July 23, 2022, surrounded by his loving family. He was born February 26, 1943, in Mt. Airy, North Carolina, to the late Fermon and Thelma Creed. He was preceded in death by his younger brother Ronald.

Buddy devoted his professional career to the electrical distribution industry: 5 years with Virginia Electric and Power and 45 years with South River EMC in Dunn. He graduated from Gaston Technical Institute of North Carolina State University, with an associate degree in electrical engineering technology.

Buddy began his career at South River EMC as an engineer. After acting as South River’s manager of operations and then assistant manager, he became South River’s executive vice president and general manager. He served on the board of directors for several professional associations, including the North Carolina Electric Membership Cooperation, the North Carolina Association of Electrical Cooperatives, and the Tarheel Electric Membership Corporation. Governor Mike Easley also appointed him to the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Rural Electric Authority, where he served for several years. He was a member of the United Carolina Bank Advisory Board and was appointed to the Dunn City Council.

Locally, he was very active in the Dunn Jaycees, enjoying a term as the organization’s president. A strong supporter of the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center, he served on its advisory board for a number of years. He was president of the parent-teacher associations at both Mary Stewart School and Harnett Middle School, and he coached baseball for many years with Dunn’s department of recreation.

Buddy was an avid outdoorsman. He grew up in Surry County, North Carolina, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, but lived his adult life in eastern North Carolina. In his earlier years, he enjoyed hunting and fishing on the Roanoke River. Over the past 30 years, he devoted his free time to hunting and fishing on the Pungo River, near Belhaven. Buddy’s love of the outdoors was secondary to his love for his family, especially his four grandchildren.

Buddy was a member of the First Baptist Church of Dunn, where he was baptized shortly after beginning his career at South River EMC. He grew up in the Quaker faith.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Lynda Pell Creed; his son Chris Creed and wife Rebecca of Jacksonville, Florida, and their two children, Ensign Gray Creed of Corpus Christi, Texas, and Alice Creed of Haverford, Pennsylvania; his son Clint Creed and wife Amy of Coats, and their two children, Savannah Creed of Georgetown, District of Columbia, and Seth Creed of Blacksburg, Virginia; his brother Hilton Creed and wife Barbara, and his sister Kay Creed, both of Mt. Airy; and many loving nieces and nephews. Always a lover of the Brittany dog breed, he enjoyed many years with his special fishing companion, Jake; his retirement gift, River; and, most recently, his beloved Buddy Boy.

A celebration of his life will be held on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, at 2 pm at the First Baptist Church of Dunn, with Dr. Len Keever officiating. Visitation will follow after the service. A private burial will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made in Buddy’s honor to any one of the following: First Baptist Church of Dunn, 309 E. Broad St., Dunn, North Carolina 28334; Salvation Army, 4015 Stuart Andrew Blvd., Charlotte, North Carolina 28217, at https://www.salvationarmycarolinas.org; or the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center, UNC Health Foundation, at https://give.unc.edu, N.C. Jaycee Burn Center (Code 343670).

Arrangements are by Skinner & Smith Funeral Home.