Charlie L. Chapman

Charlie Lewis Chapman was born September 8, 1943 in Talladega, Alabama to the late Jenkins and Lillian Chapman. He was the fifth of eight children. At an early age he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior at Africa Missionary Baptist Church. He graduated from R.R. Moton High School in Sycamore, Alabama. After graduating from high school, Charlie moved to Chicago, Illinois where he met and married Vera J. Gardner. Together they had two children, Charles and LaTanya. During his time in Illinois, he was a member of Second Baptist Church in Maywood, IL, where he served on the usher board. He was later a member of Broadview Missionary Baptist Church in Broadview, IL. He retired from the Chicago Transit Authority after 30 years of dedicated service. In retirement he returned to Alabama where he worked part-time as a school bus driver and also volunteered at the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind. He was a member of First Missionary Baptist Church in Anniston, Alabama. Charlie enjoyed the simple pleasures in life. Spending time with family, working with his hands, taking pictures, gardening, home improvement, lawn care, browsing in stores, reading "the paper," picking pecans and watching football and baseball were some of his favorite pastimes. He loved rodeos and horses, especially his horse, Cha Cha. A man of quiet strength, he was humble, disciplined, and kind. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jenkins and Lillian; three brothers, Jenkins, Willie Henry and Julius Chapman and two sisters; Elizabeth C. Trask and Carrie Lillian Chapman Hunley. On Monday, February 23, 2026, Charlie humbly submitted to the will of God and went home to be with the Lord at his residence in Oxford, Alabama. He leaves to cherish his memories, his devoted wife of 57 years, Vera Jean Chapman; his son, Charles E. (Morranda) Chapman of Huntsville, AL; daughter Dr. LaTanya R. (Denis) Floyd of Villa Rica, GA; three grandsons, Myles E. Chapman, Jalon L. Chapman and Deven M. Chapman, all of Huntsville, AL; two brothers, George E. Chapman of Westchester, IL and Jerome Chapman of Talladega, AL; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

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Charlie L. Chapman

September 8, 1943 - February 23, 2026