WILLIE D. CHARLESTON

Willie Davis Charleston was the seventh child born to Willie and Esther Harvey Charleston on March 28, 1928 at 3 a.m. in Bloomington, Texas. He was delivered (as was his siblings and many other African American children of the town) by his beloved Grandmother, Betsy Brown, the mid-wife for the “Colored people” residing in Bloomington.

Willie was a very private person except when it came to talking about his Savior, The Lord Jesus Christ; and his Mother and Grandmother. Based upon the way he talked about his Mother and Grandmother, one had to believe that they were the two most influential persons in his life. He would often reminisce about his upbringing; the way they would discipline with sternness submitted in love – meaning that he would get his just reward (that “whooping”) for misbehaving; but then subsequently receive the grace of love from that discipline because they would sit with him and explain why he received the whooping – thus the love lesson. These “love sessions” formed the foundational principles and value system for how Willie lived and conducted his life.

Willie attended segregated schools in Bloomington; however, due to life’s circumstances, he only acquired a 7th grade education. Upon leaving school Willie started working to help his Sister (Lillie) with financial support for his younger brothers. He became a laborer in Victoria County, Texas; and subsequently moved to Houston, Texas for work. After working in Houston a few years, Willie joined the United States Army serving in Port Custer, Michigan. Willie received a World War II Victory Medal citation while serving and was honorably discharged in 1947. Upon discharge from the Army, Willie moved back to Bloomington where he opened and operated a Café. Shortly thereafter, Willie moved to San Antonio, Texas, where he resided the remainder of his life.

When initially arriving in San Antonio, Willie worked as a laborer and was subsequently employed as a Civil Servant at Fort Sam Houston where he served for forty-six years; at first employed as a cashier and subsequently promoted to Resource Coordinator.

Willie was a hard-worker, avid listener and someone who appreciated wise-council. He often spoke of early lessons learned when he worked for one of his mentors, Pete Rydolph, the richest Black man in Victoria County. Although Mr. Rydolph was a cattle rancher, the wisdom that Willie gained from Mr. Rydolph’s mentorship subsequently lead to him becoming a Real Estate Investor and Entrepreneur. While he was working at Fort Sam Houston, Willie started purchasing residential properties in his community, renovating and subsequently renting the properties; an activity he continued up until his passing.

Willie is preceded in death by his parents, Willie and Esther Harvey Charleston; brothers Leevel (Duke), Bill, CJ and Marvin; and sisters Selena, Lillie and Harriet; a son, Willie Edwin Charleston. He is survived by his son and daughter Willie (Jeri) D. Charleston Jr, and Barbara Harden Bond; a brother, Lloyd Charleston; three grandchildren, Matthew (Jacquelyn) Carter Jr, Leonard (Martha) Harvey and Michelle Brooks Harvey; and a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and devoted friends: Alvin Powell, Shirley and Donnie Coleman, Eric V. Lewis Jr., Sharlena Lewis and Debra Bankston.

Willie was a kind and generous man, with a love for scripture and the outdoors. He was always willing to help his fellow man and provide words of wisdom. Willie was known for passing out $2 bills for any/or no occasion at all. And he would say “Keep this and you will never be broke.”