Calvin Childress

Clyde Calvin Childress Jr., 57, of Caswell County, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on October 3, 2026, at Alamance Regional Medical Center in Burlington, North Carolina.  Calvin was born on February 24, 1969, in Orange County, to the late Clyde Calvin Childress Sr. and the late Mary Evans, who was survived by Hugh Evans.  Calvin was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend, and man of faith. He was married to the love of his life, Andrea, and together they built a family that meant more to him than anything in this world.   

He is survived by his wife, Andrea; his children, Paul, Patrick, Jonathan (Kara), and Natalie; and his beloved grandchildren, Iris, Gracie, Serenity, and PJ. He is also survived by his sisters, Theresa (Rodney), Debra, and Cynthia (Jose), and his brother, Derrick (Kim). Calvin spent many years working at Honda Power Equipment before retiring in 2018. Never one to sit still for long, he later followed his love of cooking and community by opening Holy Smokes BBQ & Brisket in 2025 alongside friends and members of the community. Cooking was another one of Calvin’s passions, especially when it involved his smoker. If you wanted something smoked, you knew exactly who to call—Calvin.

Calvin was a proud member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – Caswell Ward. His faith journey was not always easy in the early days of his life, but as the years passed, his faith grew stronger and stronger. He came to know and love the Lord and knew Jesus as his Savior. Calvin was an outdoorsman through and through. Hunting and fishing were among his greatest passions, and he took great pride in his collection of guns and fishing poles. He was also an avid North Carolina Tar Heels fan. You could almost always find him mixing camo with Carolina blue—and somehow, he pulled it off better than anyone else, especially when the overalls came out.

But more than anything, Calvin loved his family. He loved children and cherished every opportunity to spend time with his family. His relationship with them was rock solid, and he would have given the shirt off his back to make sure the people he loved were taken care of. He was one of the most selfless people anyone could know. If someone was struggling, Calvin wanted to help. He never liked knowing that someone was hurting or doing without when he believed he could do something to make it better. Calvin had a way of making people smile no matter what they were going through. He always seemed to know just what to say, and his genuine, happy spirit was something people will always remember for years to come. And if you ever took a picture of him, there was a good chance he was holding up that familiar thumbs-up—one of those little things that became unmistakably him.

Calvin lived life with a big heart, a contagious personality, and a willingness to help others. He loved deeply, gave freely, and made an impact on the people around him simply by being himself.

He was preceded in death by his father, Clyde Calvin Childress Sr., and his mother, Mary Evans. Calvin leaves behind a family and community who loved him dearly and whose lives will never be quite the same without him. Though he will be deeply missed, his love, laughter, generosity, faith, and the memories he created with those around him will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew him.

And above all else, he was just Calvin. 

The funeral will be held at the Church of Latter-day Saints - Caswell Ward, located at 1401 Rascoe Dameron Rd. Burlington, NC 27217 -- AT 1PM on Saturday, October 10th, 2026. The family will be receiving gifts and donations at the family residence. For any florals or arrangements, please send them to McClure Funeral Services, located at 1030 S Main St. Graham, NC 27253.