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Raymond Higgins does not know why his father ran for mayor or why he decided at a later age to become a police officer.
He just knows his dad loved to serve the community.
“He loved where he lived,” Higgins said of his father, Charles Higgins Sr., who died Jan. 12 at his home.

Higgins Sr., 79, served as mayor of Locust from 1993 to 1995, with the younger Higgins saying that’s all his mom would allow.
He would also become involved in the fire and police departments of his new hometown, having been raised in Kentucky.
“He loved the community and the people in it,” Higgins said. “He just always wanted to be a police officer, a reserve, or something to help the community. It was always how he could help the community out in some way.”
Higgins and his wife, Vicki, became friends of Bob Remsburg and his family, who also moved to Locust and joined the same church, Locust Presbyterian, around the same time.
“I filled an unexpired term on City Council in Locust for a couple of years while Charlie was mayor,” Remsburg said. “Charlie always cared about everyone. As mayor, as a church member and friend, as a law enforcement officer and fire fighter and in his work — Charlie was someone who would help you out.”
Remsburg said Higgins found many ways to help out the church.
“He had a strong faith and was a good musician and painter. He sang bass in the choir as long as he was able and even filled in to preach when a pastor was not available,” Remsburg said. “He taught adult Sunday School and helped with the Boy Scouts. He served several terms as an active Elder at Locust Presbyterian. In his ‘retirement’ years, he could often be found on a lawnmower taking care of the church and cemetery grounds and helping friends and neighbors with their yardwork. Charlie was a treasure for Locust and for Stanly County. I’ll miss his smile and his laughter.”

B.J. Drye is general manager/editor of The Stanly News & Press. Call 704-982-2123.