Mr. Charles Lewis Cordell, Sr. was born on January 30, 1922 to Myrtle Marie Miller and James Jethro Cordell in Vinton, Ohio. His father Jethro died at the age of 25, leaving a young widow who later moved to Columbus, Ohio and married Henry Newman.
Charles graduated from Southeastern High School in 1940. He scored high enough to get into the Military Academy, but was denied because of his race. He joined the US Army during World War II, in which he proudly served his country and traveled the world. He was later deployed to Germany. His managerial skills were quickly recognized and in a time of very few African American officers, he was promoted to sergeant.
Charles worked for 25 years at civil service, and retired from Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Fairborn, Ohio. While there, he rose to the rank of supervisor because of his no nonsense tenacity for “sticking to your guns and doing your job”. He then moved to Huntsville, AL in 1977 and worked in the Oakwood College Cafeteria.
Charles was baptized in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in 1954. He was a deacon at the Tekoa Temple Seventh-Day Adventist church. He sang in the choir, and also taught Junior Sabbath School class. After Charles retired, he moved his membership to the First Seventh-Day Adventist Church where he has been a faithful member for nearly 30 years.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Myrtle Marie Newman, Jethro Cordell and stepfather, Henry Edward Newman.
He leaves to mourn his passing: his loving wife of 63 years, Ida Mae; one sister, Dorothy Joann Saunders of Columbus, OH; four sisters-in-law: Bernice Jones of Orlando, FL ; Alma and husband Sam Ward of Cleveland, OH; Christine Fields of Cleveland, Ohio; Karema and husband, Dave Kirby of Waycross, GA; one brother-in-law, Joe Lewis Cooper of Cleveland, OH.
Seven children: Jacquelyn and husband, Horace Walker of Kent, WA; Dr. Joyce and husband, Pastor Earl Richardson of South Charleston, OH; Sandra and husband, James Hill of Rutherfordton, NC; Phyllis and husband, Dr. Sylvanus Ogburia of Madison, AL; Charles Lewis Cordell, Jr. of Huntsville, AL; Cynthia and husband, Dr. Terry Douglas of Huntsville, AL; Edward Von Cordell of Huntsville, AL.
Seventeen grandchildren, Eight great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, friends and special nephews: Dr Greg Ward and Otis Charles Peoples.
Funeral Services for Mr. Cordell are Friday, March 9, 2007, 11:30 a.m. at the First Seventh Day Adventist Church with Pastor Benjamin Jones Officiating. Interment will be held in Valhalla Memory Gardens.