CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Catamus Gilbert Jr., 53, of 1617 Chatham Ave., Charlotte, formerly of Beckley, died Thursday, March 22, 2007, at home following a long illness. He was born March 21, 1954, to Annabelle Wallace Gilbert and the late Catamus Gilbert Sr. He was a former employee of Whitley and Sons Co. and was a member of PEE DEE Missionary Baptist Church in Lilesville, N.C. He was saved at an early age under the pastorate of Pastor Tanner Schofield at Allen Junction. “Cat,” as he was affectionately called, attended public schools in Beckley and attended Woodrow Wilson High School. He served in the U.S. Army with the Green Berets Special Forces Unit at Fort Bragg, N.C. Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife, Jeanie Gilbert; two daughters, Keisha Gilbert of Charlotte and Rashanna Gilbert of Greensboro, N.C.; five stepchildren, Christopher Wilkes, Aaron Banks, Stacie Wilkes, Tierney Wilkes and Hanesah Buford, all of North Carolina; his mother, Annabelle Gilbert of Beckley; a brother, William Timothy Gilbert (Jennifer) of Beckley; four sisters, Gracie Grant (Sam) of Beckley, Oneida Rafi-Muhammad (Kalil) of Danbury, N.C., Connie McConnell of Beckley and Carol Hance (Andre) of Atlanta, Ga.; 10 grandchildren; a special granddaughter, Jenesis Tucker, whom he and his wife have raised; and a host of in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his father, Catamus Gilbert Sr.; and two brothers, John Ward (Bernice) of Beckley and Robert Gilbert of Charlotte. Service will be 3 p.m. Tuesday at PEE DEE Missionary Baptist Church. Smith Funeral Home, Wadesboro, N.C., is in charge of arrangements. Submitted by Ritchie and Johnson Funeral Parlor, Beckley.