Bennie L Charles

Bennie L. Charles, Jr., age 85, of Birmingham, Alabama was born in Wedgewood, Alabama to Tempie Burrell and Bennie Charles, Sr. on June 21, 1935 and transitioned July 3, 2020. The family moved to Duquesne, Pennsylvania where Bennie attended school. Bennie had 3 brothers, Dofas, Love and Nathaniel , and 1 sister, Elaine. They were a close family and looked forward to seeing each other at their annual family reunions. After graduating from school, Bennie began working at US Steel in Pittsburgh. He was drafted into the Army in 1958. After basic training, he joined the 101 st Airborne, a group of paratroopers, where he learned to jump from an airplane. During his time in the service, he also played baseball, and was on the boxing and wrestling team . Bennie enjoyed telling the story of how he was in the Army with Elvis Presley. Bennie shared many details of his life in the military in a book of short stories, "Proceeding Over the Mountain" a project of the Homewood Senior Center. He was married to Eula Studdard Charles and they had sons, Eric and Brandon. The family moved to Birmingham in 1973 and he began a career at Norfolk Southern Railroad. He retired from the railroad in 1996. After retirement, he volunteered for the Senior Citizens at the Homewood Senior Center, driving and picking up the Seniors for various activities. He was an active member of Mt. Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, West End. Bennie passed away on Friday, July 3, after a brief illness. His parents, 3 brothers and Eric and Brandon's mother predeceased him. Graveside Service of Memory was held July 13, 2020 at 11:45 a.m. in the Alabama National Cemetery, Montevallo, Alabama. Rev. Derrick Hudson, the family's brother in Christ, pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, offered words of comfort and consolation, assisted by his cousin, Rev. Charles Rutledge, Old Ship AME Zion Church. Those who remain to cherish precious memories are his sons, Eric and Brandon Charles; his grandson, Sean Cornelius Charles; Sister, Elaine Delts, Duquesne, PA; brother-in-law and sister-in-laws; Hiawatha and Carolyn Studdard, Jacqueline Studdard Weatherly, James and Gerri Studdard, Dwight and Shelby Studdard, Kevin and Bobbie Studdard, Sylvia Renae and Brian Studdard; numerous nieces and nephews, co-workers, and friends who will truly miss Bennie. 􀀁