Charles Huntley

Charles "Charlie" Huntley, 85, danced his way through life, and on Saturday, September 12, 2028, he took his final bow, leaving behind a legacy of love, laughter, and an unmatched spirit for living fully.

Charlie was born in Cheraw, South Carolina, ( to Parents Dozier and Rebecca Huntley, both deceased), the third youngest of six children (Dozier, Ruby, David, Charles, Mary, and James - (Dozier and David, preceded Charles' death as children, as well as his youngest sister Minnie, Mary.) Raised in the warmth of a close-knit Southern family, he carried the values of home, faith, and community with him for the rest of his life. As a young man in his late teens, Charlie set out for Washington, D.C., in search of new horizons — a decision that would shape the next chapter of a remarkable life.

He went to Dunbar High School before enlisting in the United States Army, where he served his country with distinction and received an honorable discharge. Returning to civilian life, Charlie built a long and steady career: he worked for the U.S. Postal Service, then the Food & Drug Administration (where he met Russell Peyton - his life Partner, who preceded him in death), before joining the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, where he worked until his retirement.

Faith and service were at the heart of who Charlie was. He was a devoted member of Randal Memorial Church in Washington, D.C., where his voice rang out proudly in the choir for many years. True to his generous spirit, Charlie gave back to his community through Meals on Wheels, delivering food and comfort to elders and the sick and shut-in — always with a smile and a kind word. He also served as Secretary of the Advisory Board of his senior apartment building, lending his time and leadership to the community he called home.

But if you asked anyone who knew him, they'd tell you: Charlie lived to love, laugh, and eat good. He was happiest cooking and on the dance floor, moving to the music with the same joy he brought to every room he entered. Charlie's love of music knew no bounds — gospel, R&B, country, folk, Jazz were all welcome in his home. When he lived on Parker Avenue, you could count on hearing good music the moment you hit the front steps. He loved to travel, to explore new places, and most of all, to spend time with the people he cherished. Charlie didn't distinguish much between friends and family — to him, his friends were his family, and he loved them all fiercely, especially his Life Partner Ralph Sherling (Tom), who preceded him in death.

Charlie leaves behind his older sister, Rosa Lee Smith "Ruby" (the late Earnest C. Smith); his youngest brother, Leroy Bennette "James" (Katherine Washington); also leaves behind his blessed bonus families, the Sherlings and the Peytons; a host of nieces and nephews; a church family who adored him; a community he served faithfully; and countless friends and family whose lives he touched with his warmth, humor, and joy for living.

He will be deeply missed, but his laughter, his love, and the memory of him on the dance floor will live on in the hearts of everyone who was blessed enough to call him a brother, uncle, and friend. However, we look forward to seeing him later because, most of all, Charles was saved by the blood of Jesus Christ