WILMINGTON — Dr. Charles Nicholas Allen Avera, Jr died peacefully on Good Friday 2024 at his home overlooking Mott’s Channel, surrounded by his 3 sons, grandson Oliver and his beloved caregiver, Teresa Baldwin. In an amazing testament to his faith and love of God, he held on to depart this life on the day which Christ was crucified to bring eternal life to all who trust in Him.
He was born in Charlotte, NC on December 16, 1937. Allen was the second of four children of the late Charles Nicholas Allen Avera and Ethel English Alexander Avera of Wilmington, NC.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Elizabeth English Avera Taylor, his brother-in-law Victor Grainger Taylor, his sister Ethel Caroline Avera Taylor and his brother-in-law Walker Taylor III.
He is survived by his children from his first wife Betty McGowan Avera; Charles Nicholas Allen Avera III, Hugh Taylor Avera and his wife Anne Vance Avera, Elizabeth Ashley Alexander Avera Montague and her husband Charles Montague, and five grandchildren: Oliver McGowan Avera, Jeanie Mcree Avera, Mary McRorie Avera, Zora Montague and Zeke Montague; from his second wife Judy Treadwell Avera; John Edward Treadwell Avera and his wife Suzanne Martin Avera. Also, by his sister Margaret Avera Whitaker, brother-in-law Dr William G Whitaker III of Atlanta, GA and many loving nieces, nephews and cousins.
Allen graduated from New Hanover High School in 1956 and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he graduated undergraduate, Dental and Orthodontic schools. He was a member of Delta Sigma Delta Dental fraternity and Sigma Nu social fraternity. He received the highest grade ever achieved in Organic Chemistry. He served in the US Navy in the Naval Dental Corps as 2nd Lieutenant aboard the USS Amphion.
Allen practiced Orthodontics in Raleigh, NC from 1967 to 1996. After retiring from Orthodontics, he relocated to the beloved place of his youth, Wrightsville Beach, NC, where he enjoyed golfing, boating, fishing and especially serving and worshipping at Wrightsville Beach Baptist Church with his loving church family. He will long be remembered for his welcoming smile and warming personality as he greeted churchgoers with great devotion for many years. He was active in foreign medical mission work serving in many locations including Haiti, Sri Lanka, Uganda and Bolivia. He also served with Bridage Boys and Girls of Wilmington, the NC State Fair and Samaritan’s Purse.
Allen was a longtime member of the Carolina Country Club in Raleigh and the Cape Fear Country Club in Wilmington. He was also a member of the Raleigh Jaycees, Stag Club, Investors Club, Kiwanis Club and Carolina Yacht Club. He was a member of the NC Association of Orthodontists and The Southern Association of Orthodontists.
Allen grew up in Wilmington, NC where he started work at 8 years old carrying the morning paper. He continued carrying the paper route until he left for college while working multiple other jobs including Lifeguarding at the Carolina Yacht Club. He used his Star News Christmas bonuses to buy Ford Motor Company stock. Also, at 8 years old, he decided he wanted to be an Orthodontist and devote his life to serving others through oral care. As a harbinger of his future faith in Jesus Christ, he sold Bibles during his college summers. When he wasn’t working, he enjoyed fishing and shrimping with his father at Wrightsville Beach. He loved model airplanes as a boy and earned his private pilot’s license later in life. Like his father, he was an accomplished dancer who made any lady look graceful on the dance floor.
His greatest love was his children and extended family. He never met a stranger and had many lifelong friends.
A visitation will be held at Wrightsville Beach Baptist Church on April 8, 2024, at 12 noon with a celebration of life service at 1 p.m. Burial to follow at Oleander Memorial Gardens.
The family extends the sincerest gratitude for their loving care for Allen in his final days: Teresa Baldwin, Shelby Hinckley, Tamika Miller, Jannie Graham and special friend, Jackie Tawes.
Memorials in his honor may be made to Wrightsville Beach Baptist Church, Trinity United Methodist Church, or Samaritan’s Purse.
