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I am sure that many of you will remember Chuck. I am not sure exactly when he came to SBEC (he was there when I arrived in 6th grade), but he was with us up until our 10th grade year. Chris Graham sent me a message that Chuck passed away many years ago due to cancer. If any of you have any pictures of him, could you please send them to me so I can upload them here to the site? And if you have any information or stories that you would like to share, please do!!
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Brad Parsley
Chuck actually graduated with me from Overton H.S. Several of us grew up with Chuck. When we were kids, he would always have swim birthday parties at his house. Every year, Lamonte got in a fight with someone and would have to go home early. I loved Chuck so I can say this-his house was like the Addams Family. I remember in the guest bathroom, there were plaster mermaids on the wall. They were painted gold but someone handpainted the mermaids nips blue. His parents bedroom door had some tufted velvet on it. It was one of those houses with a bar in the den and mirrors everywhere. You know there was some freaky sh** happening at Chuck's house. HIs parents were gold though-not like the mermaids, I mean they were cool. They let us take out the 'vette (Chevette) way before we had driver's licenses. It's amazing as 14 year olds we never got busted out late at night driving around. I drank my first beer and smoked my first cig with the guy (we were way too young). Chuck was good people. I think about him often and how lucky I am to have the chances at life he didn't get. God has his reasons.Chris Graham
There are a few of us who knew Chuck since we were in grade school. I was in first grade when I started going to school with him and although I can't remember a defining moment when we became friends I do have many memories about him. Chuck was a prankster from early on. Nothing serious but it always followed with a devilish giggle. The pool parties at Chuck's house were a staple for many years. He had one every summer for his birthday. I suppose what made the parties so memorable was what Brad mentioned. Every year without fail after we had eaten and I suppose Lamonte wasn't worried about getting to eat (lol) Lamonte would get into it with someone. Sorry Lamonte, I just remember it that way but it made for unforgettable memories. I will add whoever it was probably deserved it.Chuck was one of those individuals that could fix most anything and if he couldn't he was going to give it his best shot. I remember we found an old motorcycle in the woods near my house once and Chuck drug it out of the woods and weeds that were grown up through it and took it home. He eventually got it running. I must say I was surprised for it was obvious that motorcycle got dumped for a reason.
After hs Chuck went to trade school to become an airline mechanic. Sometime during those first few years he had a serious automobile accident when someone ran into him and some friends. Chuck was hurt badly and when I went to see him he was laid up in the hospital bed with contraptions holding his arm and a leg in the air that were severely bandaged. He was on heavy sedatives and probably never knew I was there even though we did speak for a minute or so. As with most of us we had lost touch before that accident and then again afterwards. Sometime in the mid-nineties Chuck was diagnosed with cancer which he beat. Later he had met a girl, got married and was on his honeymoon when he became violently ill. His honeymoon was cut short. It was then after returning home he learned of the reoccurrence of his cancer. The prognosis was not good but I'm not sure Chuck ever knew that. After all the years the one person who took the time to look me up and let me know Chuck was in the hospital with a grim prognosis was Lamonte. I took his advice and went to see Chuck or Chuckles as we referred to him when we were kids. His wife met me outside his room and told me he may not remember me and all the grim details she knew. I went in to see him with another friend and to my surprise Chuck was the same old Chuck, he just had on a hospital gown and was in a hospital bed. We had a great conversation and reminisced about old times and memories. Chuck's memory was sharp as a razor and often finished stories I began as he was chuckling the whole time. To be honest after hearing his wife description and his prognosis before entering the room I never expected to have one last great memory of Chuck and honestly was quite confused believing maybe they were wrong. Unfortunately my friend Chuck passed away within two weeks. Here's to you Chuckles hope someone's laughing with you now.
Heather Kelly (Baddley)
Having gone to school with Chuck at Trinity Baptist as well as SBEC, I knew him for many years. I was so shocked and saddened to learn he was gone. He was a great guy and will be truly missed.