Charles Mack TownsendObituary
Mr. Charles Mack Townsend, 84, of Banner Elk, the Dutch Creek Community, died Saturday morning, March 14, 2009 at home.
He was born in Watauga County, Oct. 31, 1924, a son of the late Isaac Enzer and Clemmie Byrd Townsend.
Mr. Townsend was a retired carpenter and farmer and was a member of Clarks Creek Baptist Church.
Surviving are one daughter; Wanda Cline and husband, George; two sons, Charles Edward Townsend and wife, Lorene, and Larry Dale Townsend, all of the Dutch Creek Community; one sister, Beulah Gregory of Angier, N.C.; three brothers, Robert “Bob” Townsend of Vilas, Johnny Townsend of Foscoe and Bill Townsend and wife, Rachel, of Valle Crucis; one sister-in-law, Gertrude Isaacs of Banner Elk; one brother-in-law, Truett Coffey and wife, Joyce, of Mountain City; 12 grandchildren, Charlie and Travis Townsend, Marie and Chad Cole, Amy Cline, Scott and Jessie Townsend, Mitchell and Alicia Townsend, Shannon and Alania Townsend, and Rose Marie Hillard; and three great-grandchildren, Mack Able Townsend, Lye Rose Townsend and Abbey Cole; and a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Reba Coffey Townsend; one sister; and six brothers.
Services will be conducted Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Clarks Creek Baptist Church, with the Rev. Bill Warren and the Rev. Mike Townsend officiating. Burial will follow in the Clarks Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. The body will lie in state at the church from 1 until 2 o’clock.
The family received friends Sunday evening from 7 o’clock until 8:30 at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be sent to the Townsend family at austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com.
Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Townsend family.

Townsend's of Watauga

The Townsend Family of Watauga area of North Carolina have been living in the Clark's Creek, Dutch Creek and Banner Elk areas since the late 1830's. Not much has been mentioned in local history about the family but the development of the communities, churches and schools would not have been so successful without their involvement. The first mill in the Valle Crucis area was built by Andrew Jackson Townsend. The first Seven Day Advent Church was founded by Larkin Townsend and neighbors. He donated the land for the first church to be built on Dutch Creek. Without the labor of many of the Townsend's the Mission School, Highway 194 and the Linville/Boone Railway may not have occurred. The family has branched out in the past 170 some years. Descendants of the original settlers now live all over the US and some in foreign countries. From the Civil war to todays war on terrorism the Townsend Family have served proudly and in some instances given their lives for the freedom we now hold so dear.