Ways of Life: Cheslie Kryst radiated power and positive energy

Plus: A woman who performed as Foo-Foo the clown; a flutist who made music for U.S. presidents; a man who co-chaired the Yiasou Greek Festival for 12 years

You’re reading Ways of Life, a weekly obituaries newsletter from The Charlotte Ledger honoring our friends, neighbors and family members who made an impact on Charlotte through the ways they lived their lives.

Editor’s note: On Tuesdays, Charlotte Ledger paying members receive our Ways of Life obituaries newsletter, which shares the inspiring, thought-provoking and often-heartwarming stories of people who have died recently in our community. To receive Ways of Life in your inbox each week, consider becoming a Ledger member.

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APPRECIATION

The Charlotte lawyer and pageant queen I saw balanced hard work and grace; A life cut short at age 30

Cheslie Kryst beamed as she was fitted for alterations to outfits she planned to pack for the Miss USA competition in the spring of 2019. “Her great light was one that inspired others around the world with her beauty and strength. She cared, she loved, she laughed and she shined,” her family wrote in a statement Sunday after her death.

by Cristina Bolling

I met Cheslie Kryst for the first time over lunch at the uptown Amelie’s French Bakery in January 2019. I was a reporter, making a connection for a potential article. She was a local lawyer who was making a name for herself on the national pageant circuit.

Cheslie was so captivating that afternoon as she described how she juggled being a civil litigator, Miss North Carolina USA and a fashion blogger that I barely gave her time to eat between questions. She had to take her sandwich to go.

For an interview subject with her background, she was singular: She didn’t have the self-centered vibe you might expect of a high achiever who was used to being in the literal spotlight. She gave the impression that she was just a regular woman, albeit one with a Wake Forest law degree, a crystal tiara and a beauty that turned heads.

I went on to see her a handful more times in person and talk to her by phone a few times more for articles in the Charlotte Observer, and later in the Charlotte Ledger. Our relationship was professional — I’d reach out when she’d hit a milestone in her career, and sometimes write an article — but each time we talked I came away with an admiration for her work ethic, her grace and her thoughtfulness.

In the days since her death Sunday morning after a fall from a New York City high-rise in what police said was a suicide, many people have noted these same qualities in their tributes to her.

For many of us, Cheslie changed how we viewed women in pageants. For her, swimsuit contests were demonstrations of physical power. Pageants, she said, gave her a chance to elevate causes important to her. They let her meet people and travel. And on the national stage, she showed the world that a woman could be powerful and smart and beautiful all at once.

The next time Cheslie and I talked after our Amelie’s lunch, it was for an hour by phone a few months later. Cheslie was driving up I-77 to Washington, D.C., where she and other Miss USA-organization titleholders from the southern states were meeting their local legislators and getting a tour of the U.S. Capitol.

The Miss USA pageant was just a couple months away. She wasn’t eating sandwiches anymore and was exercising more intensely. She commented — but didn’t complain — that she was getting only a few hours of sleep a night because she had so much on her to-do list. She’d run to Target the night before so she could leave behind gifts for her mom, her sister and her niece, who’d have birthdays while she was in D.C.

In her prep for the trip, she told me with a laugh, she’d left herself a note:

“DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES FORGET YOUR CROWN.”

The next month, Cheslie and I met up for my day-in-the-life-of reporting for a profile I was writing about her for the Charlotte Observer.

It was an average day for Cheslie Kryst. For me, it was exhausting.  

We met at 5:15 a.m. at the Dowd YMCA for her pre-dawn spin class. I went back to bed for an hour while she went back to her condo and prepped to go into her uptown law office at Poyner Spruill, making little videos at my request of herself cooking breakfast, doing her hair and makeup and getting to work.

Once at the office, she worked on cases all morning. At lunchtime, we hopped in the car for a ride down South Boulevard to Christie’s Alterations, where Cheslie hauled in a giant duffel bag of outfits she needed tweaked for her upcoming Miss USA pageant trip.

Owner Christie Dam, a longtime friend of the family, gave her a hug and showed me the photo she had in a glass case of Cheslie’s mom, April Simpkins, when she was crowned Mrs. North Carolina U.S. 2002. Pageants were in Cheslie’s DNA.

Her fittings done, Cheslie said goodbye to Christie, we scarfed down a quick lunch at Chipotle (where we ran into her sister, Page), and on the drive back to the office she explained how she usually used car rides to rehearse answers to questions that could be asked during the Q&A portion of the Miss USA pageant. Interviews, she said, probably didn’t daunt her as much as the average contestant because of her career experience speaking clearly and succinctly in front of judges. (Her performance answering questions during the Miss USA competition won her accolades from national media.)

Then, it was back to work until dinnertime, when she made a Superman-esque transformation in the office bathroom into a cotton-candy-blue ball gown to emcee a charity benefit for Autism Charlotte at the uptown Mint Museum. She put her tiara and sash on in the car.

The event lasted well past 9 p.m., and Cheslie was leaving for a trip to Charleston the next day. If she felt any kind of fatigue, it was undetectable.

Cheslie and I spoke only a handful of times after that. For more profile material, I went to a Big Brothers Big Sisters charity breakfast uptown that she emceed. (She was later named to the organization’s national board.) She made speaking at the podium and working the room seem effortless.

We exchanged messages when she won the Miss USA title, and we talked by phone a few times afterwards for other articles like this one and this one. When her reign ended and she decided to stay in New York City to work as a celebrity correspondent for the TV show “Extra,” I, along with her legions of fans, was delighted at how radiant and happy she looked holding her own with the likes of Tom Hanks and Oprah.

Since Cheslie’s death was announced Sunday afternoon, people from the likes of Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles to actress Viola Davis have been expressing their condolences. TV host Gayle King struggled to keep it together while talking about Cheslie during a broadcast Monday.

Some of the people who knew Cheslie best say they’re struggling to understand how someone who radiated so much positivity and seemed to have so many plans could be secretly in so much despair.

Some are wondering if an essay she penned for Allure magazine last March about turning 30 holds some clues. She wrote: “A grinning, crinkly-eyed glance at my achievements thus far makes me giddy about laying the groundwork for more, but turning 30 feels like a cold reminder that I’m running out of time to matter in society’s eyes — and it’s infuriating.”

It’s painful to think that someone who packed as much into 30 years of life as Cheslie did could feel that they’re running out of time. As a spectator, I was excited to see where her next moves would take her.

It’s tragic that her story ended so soon.

If you or someone you know have thoughts of suicide, confidential help is available for free 24 hours a day at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255.

Related Ledger article:

• “Charlotte’s Miss USA prepares to pass the crown” (Oct. 31, 2020)

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Other obituaries this week:

Bobbie W. Bartlett, 91, of Huntersville was a charter member of Freedom Church in Charlotte and was a graduate of Thomasboro School. An avid reader, Bobbie enjoyed playing piano, gardening, eating chocolate and spending time with her family.

Dennis Michael Blanton, 73, of Charlotte served in the U.S. Air Force as a firefighter and later became a Charlotte firefighter, retiring as a captain. He enjoyed surf fishing at the Outer Banks, World War II warbirds aircraft, karate, classic cars and sharing funny stories with friends.

Ritch Lucas Cain, 79, of Charlotte worked as an operating room nurse at Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte and furthered her studies by graduating from the Presbyterian Surgical Technician School. She attended O’Donoghue School and Charlotte Catholic, graduated from Myers Park High School in 1960 and attended Mercy School of Nursing. She was a member of the DAR and UDC chapters and enjoyed volunteering with numerous organizations. She adored playing cards, dominoes, traveling, shopping, shagging and visiting the beach — but always under an umbrella.

Kristine Nodtvedt Dartnall, 64, of Charlotte joined the sales and marketing team at IBM, working for 13 years in the Charlotte regional office. She participated in the community Bible study at Myers Park United Methodist Church and was involved in women’s ministry programs at New City Church in Charlotte. She spent many years as “Foo-Foo” with the Carolina Clowns. A graduate of Myers Park High School, she enjoyed numerous trips with her friends and family to the beach, mountains, around the US, Canada and internationally. Small joys of fresh strawberries, raspberries, beautiful flowers and sunset skies made her smile.

Donald Blake Furr, 68, of Matthews founded Furr Plumbing Co. in Charlotte, and his plumbing career spanned 50 years. He attended Garinger High School in Charlotte and could often be found tinkering on an automobile or recently acquired boat or motorcycle when not enjoying the beach. In his free time, he could be found stretching or working on his techniques and forms that were learned as a black belt in Isshinryu karate.

William (Bill) Gray, 88, of Charlotte worked at Duke Power in Charlotte until his retirement in 1993 after graduating from N.C. State University with a degree in electrical engineering. He served four years in the US Navy. Bill loved to travel the U.S. and visit friends and family. He was an avid golfer and loved bird watching by the river.

Janet Crosby Harris, 83, of Harrisburg was a physical education teacher in Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools for several years and was an active member of Back Creek Presbyterian Church in Charlotte for 60-plus years. She graduated from Harding High in 1957. Janet enjoyed playing softball, tennis, bowling and working in her yard.

William Edward "Butch" Howell, Jr., 75, of Charlotte moved to Charlotte in 1975 and joined the corporate flight operations of J.A. Jones Construction Co. and later joined First Union Corporate Flight Operations in 1986. His tenure with First Union/Wachovia lasted for 23 years before starting his own aircraft consulting firm. One of his proudest achievements was being awarded the Vern Lowe Award from Cessna Aircraft in 1998. Butch served in Vietnam with the U.S. Air Force. 

Zelda Keitt, 60, of Charlotte worked with the Arts & Science Council in Charlotte for more than 32 years and ended her career as director of funds and pledge administration.

Sylvia Fox Link, 86, of Charlotte taught kindergarten for 25 years at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. She also taught preschoolers at Sharon Baptist Church Weekday School and was a director at Grace Methodist Preschool. She attended Sharon Baptist Church and Pritchard Memorial Baptist Church in Charlotte. At both churches, she served in choir activities, choir musicals and performed numerous solos with her beautiful soprano voice. She was a graduate of Central High School. 

John Demosthenes Malatras, 88, of Charlotte moved here in 1970 and joined Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral. John served many years on the parish council, five of which as president. He co-chaired the Yiasou Greek Festival in Charlotte for more than 12 years. John was recognized for his outstanding service to the church by becoming an Archon of the order of Saint Andrew the Apostle by Archbishop Spyridon and Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. This is the highest honor a lay person can receive in the Orthodox Church.

Merrie Jane Pierce, 84, of Charlotte taught at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and retired from teaching after 24 years at Charlotte Country Day School. Many of her students kept in touch with Merrie Jane. She graduated from Myers Park High School and received her education degree from Queens College in 1959. Merrie Jane enjoyed sharing meals, baking pound cakes and kneading bread with people she loved. She had a great love for animals and never turned away an animal in need of a loving home.

Donald Irving Post Jr., 41, of Concord earned a bachelor of management of information systems and finance from UNC Charlotte. He spent the last 14 years working for Skookum (now Method) in Charlotte and was Skookum’s first employee. Don was an avid golfer who had the incredible fortune to play premier courses like Pebble Beach and Quail Hollow, and he attended some of golf's largest events, including the Masters and U.S. Open.

Kathleen Neilson Potter, 94, of Charlotte helped orchestrate an annual rosary rally at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and organized a Perpetual Adoration Society and Chapel of Perpetual Adoration at St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church in Charlotte. She spearheaded fundraising for the Little Sisters of the Assumption.

Johnnie L. Ravenell, 73, of Charlotte held an A.A. in criminal justice, an A.A. in business administration and a B.A. in sociology. He retired as chief of police at Queens University in Charlotte after 25 years on the force. He served as an ordained elder in the FBH Church and later founded Eternal Life Faith Deliverance Church in Charlotte, later known as Eternal Life Worship Center. His religious education included New Life Theological Seminary in Charlotte.

Daniel Thomas Springer, 60, of Charlotte attended Chantilly Elementary School, Piedmont Middle School and West Charlotte High School. Soon after graduation in 1981, he started work in the automotive industry. Growing up, he was active in the Boy Scouts and the youth group at Cokesbury United Methodist Church in Charlotte. He was very involved as a volunteer with UMAR, a UMC organization that promotes growth and inclusion for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Dan loved to go fishing and hunting, loved water sports and was an avid follower of the Grateful Dead. 

Mark Stanton Thomas, 90, of Charlotte moved here in 1995 and shortly thereafter, the UNC Charlotte music chair asked him to teach two advanced students. His student population grew, and he established a flute choir of 35 that performed concerts at the university and other venues in the city. His efforts earned him the Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award in 2001, the only music faculty member to have received this honor. He was involved with The Charlotte Flute Club and is listed in Who’s Who in America and the International Who’s Who in Music. He was an internationally acclaimed soloist and recording artist and performed at the White House before Presidents Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy and Nixon. In Charlotte, he was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church. 

Lewis A. West, Jr., 87, of Charlotte was a 60-year member of Christ Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, where he was chairman of the board of deacons and served on every possible committee. He attended King’s Business College in Charlotte and graduated in 1955. Lewis grew up in the golden era of radio and was fascinated with the Lone Ranger, Tom Mix, Captain Midnight and Gene Autry, transcribing old recordings onto cassette tapes. His hobby soon turned into a small business, Radio Gem’s, and Lewis exhibited them at the Metrolina Flea Market in Charlotte for 20 years. He was passionate about baseball and visited all 50 states. 

Ways of Life condensed obituaries are compiled by Darrell Horwitz, a Charlotte-based freelance writer who writes about sports, local news and restaurants. Reach him at darrellhorwitz@gmail.com

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