Alexander E. Charleston, Sr.

Sad news has arrived from Anniston, Alabama.

My great-uncle, Alexander E. Charleston, Sr. passed away on August 18. He was 90.

My cousin, Al, Jr., posted the photo (at right) of his dad.

Here is the obituary from Gray Brown-Service Mortuary:

Funeral Services for Lt. Col. (Retired) Alexander Edwin Charleston, Sr. (90) of Anniston, who passed away August 18, 2015, will be Friday, August 21, 2015 at 10:00 am at Gray Brown-Service Mortuary. Burial with full military honors to follow at Piedmont Highland Cemetery. Services will be performed by Dr. Mack Amis and Rev. Kevin Garrett of Parker Memorial Baptist Church.  

Col. Charleston, a native of California, completed his undergraduate degree at the University of California, Los Angeles and his graduate degree at Jacksonville State University. He retired from the United States Army after 27 years of active duty service. He served in World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam Conflict. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army of Occupation Medal (Japan), United Nations Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Korean Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, 5 Overseas Bars. After retiring from the Army, he taught school for nineteen years in the Calhoun County School System and two years at the Donoho School. He served as President of the Northeast Alabama Retired Officers Association, Secretary of the Alabama Retired Officers Association, Deacon at Jacksonville First Baptist Church, Deacon at Parker Memorial Baptist Church, and member of the Board of Directors for Anniston Kiwanis Club. He was a member of Parker Memorial Baptist Church, Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Jacksonville Hiram Lodge #42, Alabama Society Cheaha Chapter Sons of American Revolution (SAR), and The Sons of the Republic of Texas, First Families of Tennessee, First Families of Texas, and The American Legion. 

Survivors include his wife of 48 years, Joy Woolf Charleston; three sons Ray Burgess (Joy) of Anniston, Alabama; Keith Burgess (Kathy) of Nashville, Tennessee; Alex Charleston, Jr. (April) of Marietta, Georgia. Six Grandchildren: Amber Burgess Harbison (Michael), Mary Ellen Burgess Mulkey (Ray), Allison Burgess Kent (Michael), Amy Burgess Eggleston (Alex), Reed Charleston, Remy Charleston. Six Great Grandchildren: Hannah Harbison, Elizabeth Harbison, Nathan Kent, Josephine Kent, Samantha Kent, Raegan Mulkey.  

Pallbearers will be the United States Military Honor Guard. Honorary Pallbearers will be members of MOAA, SAR, and Hiram Lodge #42.

He was a great man who was well-respected and will be remembered fondly. Au revoir, Uncle Alex.