Charles Jennings

Charles Jennings was born on July 14, 1948, in Dillon, South Carolina, to Mattie and Flossie Jennings. In 1974, he moved to Akron, Ohio. He worked for many years at Annadale Scrap Yard in Akron, Ohio, and part-time at Barberton Scrap Yard in Barberton, Ohio, until he retired in 1995.

Charles, affectionately known to many as "Mr. Charlie or Uncle Charlie," was a man whose presence could light up any room. He loved to dance. Music was his passion, especially the soulful sounds of Rick James. Once a song by Rick James came on, he was out-dancing everyone. Charles definitely had a green thumb. He grew cotton in Akron, Ohio; no one could believe it. He loved his vegetable garden, juicy peach tree, and his beautiful rose bush.

Charles was always ready to lend a helping hand, a true neighborhood mechanic and handyman. He was a great listener and someone, people could count on. He was known as the neighborhood dad, uncle, and grandfather. He was a loving man who deeply cherished his family and friends. He loved to party and was the heart of every celebration. Every year on his birthday, he would grill his famous half-pig and invite the whole neighborhood to come party, eat, and drink. He enjoyed his favorite drink, "Wild Irish Rose," the red one. If you brought him the wrong one, he might have fussed you out.

Charles was a man who, if you said something crazy to him, would chase you up and down the street, and then seconds later, you would be having a drink together, laughing. He always kept a smile on his face, no matter what life brought his way. Everywhere he went, he was loved. And when you heard that famous shout, "Owwww!", you already knew it was him.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Flossie Mae Jennings; father, Mattie Lee Jennings; stepfather, Jessie (Mack) McKinnon; grandmother, Maggie Page; brother, Samuel (Vera) Jennings; best friends, Joe (Lil Joe) Hall and Joe (Big Joe) Tucker. He leaves to cherish his memory, his faithful and loving companion of 49 years, Shirley Dianna Jones; sons, James Alford of Charlotte, NC, Christopher Jennings of Bennettsville, SC, Donnelle Jennings of Wadesboro, NC, and Huston Jones of Sharon, PA. Daughters, Lisa (Monty) McClain of Bennettsville, SC, Shalina Jones, Charise Millender, and Tonya Wright, all of Akron, OH. Brothers, Johnny (Claudette) Jennings, James (Estella) Jennings, both of Dillon, SC, Willie (Gearldine) Jennings of Latta, SC. Sisters, Sarah (Aaron) Davis, Rachel (Archie) Purnell, Linda (Lambert) Gibson, all of Latta, SC, and Maggie J. Jennings of Clio, SC. Grandchildren, Alicia Jennings, Tony Jennings, Vashawn Jennings, Kymani Jennings, Errick Jones II, Dionte Jones, Jamal Wright, Lionel Millender III, Larell Millender, and Jalen Wright. Four great-grandchildren. Special sisters-in-law, Tonya Kirkland and Denise Slater; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews