Charles Everett Forbes

Charles Everett Forbes, age 81, resident of the Oakland Community, United States Veteran and retired firefighter for the City of Memphis, departed this life Sunday, October 26, 2014 at the National HealthCare Center in Somerville.

Services of Remembrance for Mr. Forbes were conducted at 2 P.M. Wednesday, October 29th at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland with Dr. Wayne Webb, pastor of Macon Road Baptist Church in Arlington, officiating. He was assisted by Bro. John Raiteri. Interment with Military Honors followed in the Macon Cemetery in Macon, Tennessee. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes & Cremation Center – West Chapel at Oakland.

Mr. Forbes was born November 11, 1932 in Macon, Tennessee. He was preceded in death by his parents, Everett Vernon Forbes and Mable Elizabeth Miller Forbes. He received his education in the Fayette County Public School System and at the age of 17, he joined the United States Army and volunteered to join the Airborne because they paid more. He was assigned to the 82nd All American Airborne Division for training and afterwards was sent to Korea as part of the only Airborne unit sent to Korea - the 501st of the 101st Screaming Eagles Airborne Division. During the Korean War Period, he was awarded the Purple Heart and Silver Star.

After the Korean War Period, he returned home and briefly worked for the Railroad until he joined the Memphis Fire Department where he was a firefighter until he fell through a roof and was injured, at which point he was assigned to the Fire Dispatch office. He worked his way through the ranks and eventually was promoted to the rank of District Chief of the Fire Communications Office. He retired from the Fire Department after 25 years in 1979. After retiring from the Memphis Fire Department, Mr. Forbes and his first wife, Martha, opened Rossville Auction and successfully ran it until his health started to fail. Mr. Forbes was a resident of Fayette County for much of his life and was a member of the Macon Road Baptist Church at Arlington. He enjoyed fishing, traveling and hunting.

Mr. Forbes is survived by his wife, Slona Wallace Forbes of Oakland; two sons, Steve E. Forbes (Debra) of Macon, TN, Charles R. Forbes (Stephanie) of Bartlett, TN; two stepchildren, James Wallace (Kendri) of Beverly Hills, FL, Sonja Wallace of Paradise, CA; eight grandchildren, Brandon Banks, Dana Culpepper, Brady Forbes, Braxton Banks, Joshua Forbes, Michael Forbes, Matthew Banks, Samuel Jacob Wallace; and nine great grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Forbes was preceded in death by his first wife, Martha Sue Dillbeck Forbes who died December 26, 2007 and his daughter, Charlene Elizabeth Forbes Banks.

Those honored to serve as casketbearers were Tom Bevis, Ed Taylor, Gary Pullian, Wyatt Pullian, Jack Sams and Travis Cane.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the Macon United Methodist Church, 8740 Highway 193, Oakland, TN 38060 or the Macon Road Baptist School, 11015 Highway 64, Arlington, TN 38002.