On Sunday morning, October 11, 2020, Charlie Shoates Jr., age 93, was called to the heavenly skies and passed away quietly in his sleep, with the comfort of his four children nearby. He was born March 31, 1927, from the union of Charlie Shoates Sr. and Mayberta Davis. Charles, or “Bro” as he was sometimes affectionately called, was the eldest of 11 children. While growing up in the rural south during the ’30s, life for a young black man was not easy. Charles found that through reading books not only did he gain knowledge, but he could also momentarily escape these trying and difficult times. Blessed with his passion for reading and hard work in school, he was awarded class valedictorian in his senior year in high school. Shortly after graduating from high school, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. While serving his country and stationed in Texas, Charles was promoted to Sargent in the Medical Corp, only later to find himself shipping off to Germany to complete his final six months there. Once he returned to the states and received an honorable discharge, Charles enrolled at Morehouse College under the G.I. Bill receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Chemistry. Charles often delighted in talking of his time as class president at Morehouse; the people he met; the times he had; even mentioning Martin Luther King, whom he met and was an upperclassman at the time. After college, he moved to Akron where he started Ray-Tel TV Repair Service. While getting his business underway, he joined Mt. Zion Baptist Church, where he later taught the adult Sunday School Class. This turn of events led him to meet his wife, Lillie. They celebrated 60 wonderful years together. From this union, four children were born; Charles III, Lawrence, Wanda and Donovan. Business was good for the TV Repair Shop. However, with urban renewal, he was forced to go out of business. Often it is said in life that when one door closes, another opens and Charles landed a job with Babcock and Wilcox in Barberton, Ohio as a Layout Specialist, eventually retiring after 30 years of service.
Charles will be sorely missed, not only for his quick wit, but also for his holiday yeast rolls by both family and friends.
Charles was preceded in death by his wife, Lillie; father, Charlie Sr.; mother, Mayberta; sisters, Dorothy Mae, Betty Jean and Lucille; brother, Ernest, James, David and Herman; grandson, Charlie IV; son-in-law, Barry Colbert and brother-in-law, Maurice Townsend.
He leaves to cherish his memory his children Charlie III (Yvonne), Lawrence (Beverly), Wanda, Donovan (Deb); sisters, Christine (Jesse) and Geraldine; brother, Robert (Roberta); 10 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and a host of family and friends.