Grady Lamar Armstrong

Dr. Grady Lamar Armstrong, 70, of 400 Pearl Avenue, Kannapolis, died Thursday, January 14, 2010 at his home. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, January 17, 2010 at Lady's Funeral Home Chapel. Interment with Police Honors conducted by the Kannapolis Police Department will follow at Carolina Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Lady's Funeral Home. At other times, they will be at the home. Born May 10, 1939 in Cabarrus County, he was the son of the late Grady Lamar Armstrong, Sr. and Ruth Crisco Armstrong. He retired in 1994 as a Lieutenant with Kannapolis Police Department, following 30 years of service. Dr. Armstrong was currently serving as the assistant director of the Basic Law Enforcement Training program at Rowan Cabarrus Community College in Salisbury. A veteran of the US Marine Corps, he was a member of Concord First Assembly, the Gideons International, and Allen-Graham Masonic Lodge No. 695. Grady was an avid fisherman and active with Bass Masters of Charlotte. He was also a member of the NRA and the Republican National Committee. A 1957 graduate of A.L. Brown High School, he received an Associate of Arts Degree from Davidson County Community College, Bachelor of Arts Degree from Pfeiffer University, Master of Science in Criminal Justice and a Doctor of Philosophy from LaSalle University. He received numerous citations and commendations from the Kannapolis Police Department. He was a recipient of a Certificate of Commendation from the American Legion in 1972. He also earned the Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate from the North Carolina Department of Justice, and a certificate from The FBI Specialized School of Advanced Criminology for Law Enforcement. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Richard Eugene Armstrong, Sr. Survivors include his wife, Jo Gail Sides Armstrong; two sons, Joseph Barnette and wife Lisa of Southport, Bill Graham and wife Shari of Salisbury; five grandchildren, Angel Baker, Brittany Murdaugh, Eric Murdaugh, Caroline Graham and Perry Graham; a great-granddaughter, Aryana Baker; a sister-in-law, Sherran Armstrong; and two nephews, Darrell Keith Armstrong and Richard Eugene Armstrong, Jr. Memorials may be sent to Concord First Assembly, 150 Warren C. Coleman Blvd., Concord, NC 28027.