A Reflection of Life

Mr. Charles (Charlie) J. Graham, a lifelong resident of Baltimore, Maryland, departed this life at 1:11 p.m. on July 2, 2023, at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland. He was born on July 21, 1935, to the late Laurence and Mattie (Banks) Graham. Charles attended Baltimore Public School system. He was baptized at Fountain Baptist Church in 1978 and later joined the Ray of Hope Baptist Church in 1983 both of Baltimore.

Charles served three years in the United States Army as an Infantryman, and his duty stations included England and Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

After military service while visiting friends in Cincinnati, Ohio he met and married the love of his life, the late Lillie B. (Thomas) Graham on January 8, 1960, a matrimony of thirty-eight years.

Uncle Charles, as he was affectionately called, worked several years for Montgomery Ward, and after tireless service he retired from Bethlehem Steel at Sparrow Point. During Sparrow Point tough times Charles attended technical school and earned his electrician and plumbing certification from Lincoln Technical Institution and continued to be the neighborhood handyman.

Charles was widely known as a critical thinker and the expression of his thoughts, he loved watch Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods, and would regularly watch two TV’s simultaneous with the volume turned all the way up, one TV was on Western Movies and the other TV on the News.

Charles was preceded in death by his siblings: Harry Larry Graham, William Graham, Jerome Graham, and Ruth (Graham) Banks Power.

He leaves to cherish his memories two brothers-in-law: Arthur (Dorothy) Thomas of Opelika, Alabama, Robert (Tip) Thomas of Greensboro, Georgia; four sisters-in-law: Annie B. Robbin Askew of Cincinnati, Ohio, Martha R. Hill of Greensboro, Georgia, Justine Steel of Country Club Hills, Illinois and Sinnie Atkinson of Athens, Georgia, a godson: Josiah DaMartae Champion. A host of nieces, nephews, and friends that loved him dearly, and very special devoted neighbors: Anthony (Ant) Garnett, Tereia (Tricey) Payne-Hawkins, and Michelle (Missy) Smith.

Graveside Services Wednesday July 12, 2023 at 11:00 a.m., from New Springfield Baptist Church, Siloam with Rev. Leroy Crawford Officiating.