Dr. Marie (Smith) Charles

Dr. Marie Smith Charles departed this life Saturday, August 23, 2014 following an extended illness.

Services of Remembrance for Dr. Charles were conducted at 10 A.M. Saturday, September 6th at the Peebles Main Funeral Chapel in Somerville with Bro. John Honea, a pastor at the Somerville First Baptist Church, officiating. Interment followed in the Somerville City Cemetery. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes & Cremation Center - Main Chapel of Somerville.

Born December 29, 1930 in Canaan, Benton County, Mississippi, Dr. Charles was preceded in death by her parents, Daniel R. Smith and Willie Work Smith and 5 of her siblings. Together they worked an 80 acre cotton plantation before the family moved to Somerville, where she graduated Fayette County High School.

Dr. Charles married US Marine Corps Sergeant John Charles in 1950 and moved to St. Petersburg, Florida.  After obtaining her degree from Univ. of South Florida, she embarked on a 32 year public school teaching career, culminating as Director of Adult Curriculum for Pinellas County, Florida.  During evenings she earned her Masters Degree in Education from Univ. of South Florida and a Ph.D in Vocational Education from Colorado State Univ.  Dr. Charles was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Delta Kappa, Alpha Delta Kappa (academic sororities), the Eastern Star, United Daughters of the Confederacy and Northside Baptist Church St. Petersburg, FL.  She was a world traveler and authored three books.

Dr. Charles is survived by her son, John D. Charles, Jr. of Naples, FL; granddaughter, Sarah Nicole Charles of Palm Harbor, FL; and her only surviving sibling, Dolly Mae Lee of Somerville.

The family requests that memorials be directed to the Ashland Historical Center of Benton County, Mississippi, 671 Ripley Avenue, Ashland, MS 38603 (662-224-6254).