Charles “Cy” Luther Maulden was born in Kannapolis, NC, December 30, 1923, to the late Grover Cleveland Maulden and Norrie Collins Maulden. He passed away peacefully August 8, 2026. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Lacy, Dewey, and Roy, and his sisters, Thelma, Dorothy, Betty, and Hilda. He was married to his wife of 71 years, Jo Anne Law Maulden, who also preceded him in death in 2018.

Sometimes referred to as Cabarrus County’s Music Man, he graduated from J.W. Cannon High School in 1940.

He studied at Shenandoah Conservatory of Music for two and one half years before being drafted into the Army where he served in Italy and Sicily as a military band member entertaining our troops during World War II. Returning to school after the war, he met the love of his life, Jo Anne, and earned a Bachelor of Music Education. He began his teaching career as band director at Cannon High in 1947, moved to Winecoff High in 1951, and directed the band at Northwest Cabarrus at its inception in 1966 while also continuing at Winecoff.

Upon his retirement from the state school system in 1982, he began the band program at First Assembly Christian School, now Concord Academy, continuing there until 1989, ending a 42-year career as a teacher and band director.

In addition to teaching and directing bands, he was a choir director at Forest Hill United Methodist Church from 1948 to 1988. After his retirement there, he founded and directed a senior citizens community choir, The Singing Saints, for another 22 years. The choir had more than 50 voices from 15 different churches. The group provided music for nursing homes, civic groups, and performed numerous patriotic and seasonal concerts.

He was a member of the N.C. Music Educators and N.C. Bandmaster Association.

He was Honored with the Distinguished Alumnus Award for Outstanding Career Achievement from Shenandoah University in 1998 and was inducted into the Dayton Alumni Hall of Fame, Shenandoah University in 2022.

Of note outside the music community, he completed a dream by taking a tandem parachute jump at the age of 93!

He performed a solo with the Piedmont Choral Society for a number of years at their annual Patriotic Concert, most recently in July of this year.

In addition to being the choir director at Forest Hill, he was a Sunday school teacher, past Chairman on the Administrative Board, past president of the United Methodist Men, director of the wind ensemble, a member of the Caregivers, and the Sunshine Club. He enjoyed his participation in the Musical Chairs, the chair aerobics group for seniors at Forest Hill UMC.

He was a member and treasurer of the Christian Business Men’s Committee chapter in Cabarrus County helping to sponsor the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast in Concord and Kannapolis for a number of years.

As a member of the Winecoff Lion’s Club, he held various local and district offices. He received a 35-year perfect attendance pin during his service to the community.

His hobbies, other than music, included playing bridge with his wife and friends for many years, playing golf with his co-teachers, fishing, and spending time with his family, especially on special occasions.

He is survived by his oldest son, Dennis C. Maulden, of Hendersonville, NC; daughter, Margaret Anne Maulden of Mt. Pleasant, NC; and son, David P. Maulden (Beverly) of Concord, NC. He has two grandchildren, Charles S. Maulden (Bethany) and Jonathan A. Maulden (Lindsey), both of Concord, and two great grandchildren with whom he enjoyed spending time with and loved them both dearly, Easton and Eloise "Ellie Jo” Maulden.

Whitley's Funeral Home in Kannapolis is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will be from 6:00pm to 8:00pm on Friday, 08/14/26. Reverend Beverly Maulden will preside over a Celebration of Life service to be held in Whitley’s chapel Kannapolis at 11:00am on Saturday, 08/15/26, with interment immediately following at Carolina Memorial Park.

The family would like to express their appreciation to the staff of Home Instead for their assistance in the care of Cy during the past year after his recovery from surgery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to “The Caregivers” in care of Forest Hill United Methodist Church, 265 Union St. NW, Concord, NC 28025; “The Singing Saints Choir”, at 2010 Townview Dr., Kannapolis, NC 28081; or Cooperative Christian Ministry at PO Box 1717, Concord, NC 28026-1717. Online condolences may be made at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com.