Dr. Charles Major Bauknight, 89, died on Saturday, September 9, 2023. Born in Greenville, SC, on April 11, 1934, he was a son of the late Rev. Pinkney Lomo Bauknight and Nina Mae Eleazer Bauknight. Dr. Bauknight's father was a methodist minister and they lived in many places including Lancaster, Chester, Union, Clinton, Sumter, and Maulding, SC. He graduated from Edmonds High School in Sumter in 1952, Wofford College in 1956, and Emory University School of Dentistry in 1960. Dr. Bauknight met his wife in dental school and married in June of 1960.

Following his education, he joined the US Army and served two years as a Dentist at Fort Campbell in Kentucky. His three children were later born and he, and his beautiful wife, moved back to Columbia where he went on to practice dentistry until his retirement at age 64. Travel was enjoyable for he and his wife during their retirement and they loved watching their family grow with eight wonderful grandchildren. He was an avid outdoorsman, hunter, beekeeper, fisherman and skilled in the hobby of duck carving. He loved shrimping with his cousins. Most of all, he was a loving and fiercely devoted husband, father and grandfather.

Survivors include his wife, Joan Dean Richardson Bauknight; daughters, Barbara Bauknight Brickley and Joan Dean Bauknight Allen; son, Charles Major (Chuck) Bauknight, Jr. (Elizabeth Foster Bauknight); grandchildren, Ryan Christopher Allen, Erik Andrew Allen, Ty Matthew Allen, Ashley Taylor Allen, Charles Major Bauknight III, Paul Foster Bauknight, Tanner Richardson Bauknight and Baylor Merritt Bauknight. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, sister and son-in-law.

The memorial service for Dr. Bauknight will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, September 18th, at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext., Columbia, with the Rev. Dennis Banks officiating. The family will receive friends following the service at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to Shandon Baptist Church, 5250 Forest Drive, Columbia, SC, 29206.