Dr. Marie Smith CHARLES

CHARLES, Dr. Marie Smith departed this life Saturday, Aug. 23, 2014 following an extended illness. Services of Remembrance for Dr. Charles will be conducted at 10 am Saturday, Sept. 6, at the Peebles Funeral Homes Main Chapel in Somerville, TN. Born Dec. 29, 1930 in Canaan, Benton County, MS. Dr. Charles was preceded in death by her parents, Daniel R. Smith and Willie Work Smith and 5 of her siblings. Together they worked an 80 acre cotton plantation before the family moved to Somerville, TN, where she graduated Fayette County High School. Dr. Charles married U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant John Charles in 1950 and moved to St. Petersburg. After obtaining her degree from University of South Florida, she embarked on a 32 year public school teaching career, culminating as Director of Adult Curriculum for Pinellas County. During evenings she earned her Masters Degree in Education from University of South Florida and a Ph.D in Vocational Education from Colorado State Universty. Dr. Charles was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Delta Kappa, Alpha Delta Kappa academic sororities, the Eastern Star, United Daughters of the Confederacy and Northside Baptist Church St. Petersburg. She was a world traveler and authored three books. Dr. Charles is survived by her son, John D. Charles Jr. of Naples; granddaughter, Sarah Nicole Charles of Palm Harbor; and her only surviving sibling, Dolly Mae Lee of Somerville, TN. The family requests that memorials be directed to the Ashland Historical Center of Benton County, Mississippi, 662-224-6254. Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes Somerville, TN 901-465-3535