C. E.

Pullen

Charles Eugene (C.E.) Pullen, Jr., a native of Thomas County, passed away on Tuesday, April 7.  He was born on March 1, 1922 to Charles Eugene (Gene) Pullen, Sr. and Lula Moncrief Reichert.

He is survived by his wife - Joann Duncan Pullen; children - Linda Pullen Napoleone (Jack), Margaret Pullen Collins (Steve), Ernest Pullen (Melanie);  sister - Marge Pullen Ridolfi; grandchildren - Nathan Jones (Lisette), Meghan Pullen Wilson (Lance), Savannah Pullen Tucker (Jordan), Blake Pullen (Dawnalee), Amelia Pullen Tillman (Alex), stepchildren – Cindy Welch (Walter), Deborah Hutchinson, Joey Cordell, grandchildren – Amy Meissner (Aaron), Jill Dunham, Jodie Vick (Jamie), Jennifer Bell, Amber Hutchinson, Wesley Hutchinson (Taylor); numerous great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and cousins.

C.E.'s father, was a sculptor with works on display at Pebble Hill Plantation and The Little White House in Warm Springs. His mother was a gifted musician. He inherited the talents of both parents.

Pullen was recognized for his music, artistry and the iconic black eye patch he wore.  As a teenager, he lost his right eye to a failed prank that left him unable to complete high school or enlist for service in World War II.  As a member of the Civil Service, he became an apprentice Tool and Dye Maker at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida. Never regarding himself as handicapped by the loss of his eye, he rose to the top of his profession. In the 50s and 60s, he worked for Perkin Elmer Corporation and was named as the company's number one Senior Model Maker working on projects for MIT and NASA.

At the age of seven, he began a part-time musical career as a banjo player and went on to perform with many of the Grand Ole Opry greats. Pullen designed and built his own one-of-a-kind banjo. In 2001 he was a featured Georgian in Oglethorpe's Dream , published by the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade, and Tourism and in 2017 inducted into the Georgia Country Music Hall of Fame.

He returned to Thomas County in the 1970s, working at Pebble Hill Plantation and Carbide Products.  He is a Past Master Mason and has been a member of the Thomasville Lodge since 1947.  He loved people and often when introducing someone began with: "This is one of my favorite people".   He especially loved his wife, family, and First Newark Baptist Church, where he was a faithful member.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to:

First Newark Baptist Church, 225 Russell Road, Thomasville, GA 31792

or to: Shriners Hospitals for Children, 2900 Pointe Drive, Tampa, FL 33607