Legendary WRAL anchor and ‘Cronkite of North Carolina’ Charlie Gaddy laid to rest

On Thursday morning, a Raleigh legend was laid to
rest. Charlie Gaddy — North Carolina’s Walter Cronkite and WRAL’s main anchor
for more than two decades — got one last goodbye, during a funeral at Raleigh’s
Edenton Street United Methodist Church. 

Rev. Bruce Stanley, whom Gaddy chose to deliver the sermon at the
service, shared a letter Gaddy had written him, that was to be opened only
after Gaddy’s death. 

“The letter begins, ‘Dear Bruce, I have never died before, so this
is all new to me,’” said Stanley, to laughs from the crowd. “What a great gift,
for him to offer his humor, even from that other side of the River Jordan.” 

Dozens of family and friends and long-time WRAL colleagues,
gathered to honor the anchor, sharing stories of the man who made people across
North Carolina laugh, cry and feel the biggest events of the day. 

“I stand here today for what is one of the greatest honors of my
life: to eulogize a man so deeply loved and admired,” said former WRAL anchor
Debra Morgan, one of three speakers tapped to share their thoughts and memories
of Gaddy. “I will miss his laugh and those big hugs.”

“How lucky are we to have known Charlie Gaddy?” asked Jim Goodmon, chairman of the board of directors of Capitol Broadcasting Company, WRAL’s parent company. 

Gaddy’s family also shared tearful memories.

One of his
nieces, Emile Frame, said, “While you and Nancy never had children, we knew we were your
daughters.”  

The funeral was also a chance to show how Gaddy, the face of WRAL
for more than two decades, not only touched thousands via a television screen,
but set the tone for generations of journalists. 

“He taught me to listen to everyone. Everyone has a story,” said
Clarence Williams, a former WRAL director who spent decades at the station, and
worked closely with Gaddy. 

Melinda Adams, a former WRAL producer who went on to work for
multiple networks, and now works with ESPN said, “Charlie was about character,
integrity and respect.” 

“He was a father figure for me, and just all around good guy,”
said Renee McCoy, a former anchor and reporter with WRAL. “Always there for
you, always supporting and always helping you to get better.” 

WATCH: Charlie Gaddy memorial service

WATCH: Capitol Broadcasting Chairman Jim Goodmon on how Gaddy’s career at WRAL began

WATCH: WRAL anchor Debra Morgan remembers Gaddy’s laugh, hugs

After the service, Gaddy was laid to rest at Raleigh’s Montlawn
Memorial Park.