Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

December 29, 2020

Francis Armistead “Steady” Cash Jr., 78, of Charlotte, NC, passed away on December 29, 2020.  The son of the late Francis A. “Red” Cash Sr. and Elizabeth Wall “Liz” Cash of Bristol, VA, he is survived by his wife of 56 years, Barbara Martin Cash, son, Francis A. “Chip” Cash III and his wife, Emma of Charlotte, NC; son, Edmond Martin Cash and his wife, Kerry of Franklin, TN; son, Scott McTyeire Cash and his wife, Michelle of Franklin, TN; his grandchildren, Mary Elizabeth Cash, Caroline Cash, Franni Cash Cain and her husband Austin Cain, F. A. “Steady” Cash IV, Martin Cash Jr., McKittrick Cash, Baker Cash, Abigail Cash, Hailey Cash, Lily Cash, Sonnet Cash and Symphony Cash; his beloved sister, Courtney Cash Mustin of Richmond, VA, along with Courtney’s children and grandchildren.

Steady grew up in Bristol, and graduated from Episcopal High School in Alexandria, VA.  He attended the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill where he walked onto the freshman basketball team.  In November 1964, he married Barbara Martin and began working for her father, Ed Martin, at the Parnell-Martin Companies, LLC in Charlotte, NC.  Upon Mr. Martin’s death, Steady became CEO at Parnell-Martin, serving in that role until selling the company in 2004.

He was active in the Charlotte community serving on many boards including: First Trust Bank, Barnhardt Manufacturing Company, Charlotte Leadership Forum (co-founder), and National Christian Foundation—Piedmont.  He and Barbara along with their family attended Carmel Presbyterian Church for 20 years, where he was an elder and adult Sunday School teacher.  Currently, they are members at New City Church.

He and Barbara gave their time and resources to many ministries locally, nationally, and internationally.  They both shared a particular love for Young Life, where Steady served on the national board of trustees from 1989-2016 and was chairman of that board from 1998-2000.

Devoted to his wife Barbara and their family, he was a loving husband, dad, grandfather, and friend.  But Steady’s greatest love was Jesus.  His relationship with Christ was the foundation for his decisions, the barometer for his business, and the spark in his love for others.

He loved photography ever since his father-in-law, Ed Martin, gave him his first camera in his early 20s.  Taking pictures at every chance he could for over 50 years until his health declined, Steady even won the Charlotte Observer photo contest one year.  He passed on his love for photography to his children and grandchildren.

Steady loved music and began playing guitar at age 15.  Some of the family’s favorite memories are watching him play around the house and playing on stages with him. Even until his last days, the mention of Chuck Berry and Johnny B. Goode would instinctively cause him to start playing air guitar.

The family would like to thank the staff at The Cypress of Charlotte and Hospice & Palliative Care of Charlotte for their care the last several years. In particular, we are grateful beyond words for the caregivers who loved him and our family so well during this last season of his life.  Anthony Crawford, John Williams, Akim Belton and Lisa Faulker—you are truly our heroes.

A memorial service will be held at 11 AM, Saturday, January 2, 2021 at New City Church, 2500 Carmel Rd., Charlotte, NC.  Seating is very limited and COVID protocols will be followed on church grounds.  The service will be livestreamed at https://newcity.us/eventstream for those who are unable to attend.  Memorials may be made to Young Life at https://giving.younglife.org/southcharlotteyounglife or the Charlotte Leadership Forum at Giving - Charlotte Leadership Forum (charlotteforum.org).

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences can be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.