Obituary of Henderson Belk

The Reverend Dr. Henderson Belk The Rev. Dr. Belk, 88, of Charlotte, NC died on October 20, 2011. He was born on August 1, 1923 in Charlotte, son of the late William Henry Belk (founder of Belk Department Stores) and Mary Leonora Irwin Belk. Dr. Belk was educated in Charlotte city schools, graduated from McCallie School in Chattanooga, TN, attended Davidson College and graduated from Duke University with a B.A. degree in 1948. He then continued his studies later in life and earned his M.A. degree in Biblical Studies in 1996 and his Ph.D. in Christian Counseling in 1997 as well as many Honorary Doctorate Degrees from universities in the southeastern United States. Dr. Belk served in the U.S. Navy from 1942 until 1946. He then went to work for Belk Department Store where he retired after 45 years. He also had many other business interests in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. Dr. Belk attended Trinity Presbyterian Church and was elected Elder in 1960 and then First Baptist Church in Charlotte where he was a Deacon and Sunday School Teacher and served on the Foreign Mission Board. He served as Preacher at Henderson Mission Church and as Founder, President and Professor at Henderson Christian University International, with fourteen campuses worldwide. Dr. Belk also served on many charitable organizations including JAARS, Pennsylvania Theological Seminary, Carolina University of Theology, Henderson Christian University, The Gideon?s, Christ for the World, Reformed Theological Seminary, The Salvation Army and many others. Dr. Belk is survived by his wife, Linda; children, Tommy and his wife, Donna, Paul and his wife, Cecelia, Connie, Jay and his wife, Pam, Mary and her husband, John, and Margaret and her husband, Paul; step-children, Sean and his wife Sophia, Chris and his wife, Amanda and Ashley; seventeen grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; sister, Sara Belk Gambrell; and a brother, Irwin Belk. Funeral service will be at 2:30 PM on Sunday, October 23, 2011 at First Baptist Church of Charlotte, 301 South Davidson Street, Charlotte, NC 28231. Interment is private. The family will receive friends from 3:00 until 5:00 PM Saturday, October 22, 2011 at Hankins & Whittington Funeral Service, 1111 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28203. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Henderson Christian University, 288 Eighth Avenue, Cramerton, NC 28032 or First Baptist Church of Charlotte.