Charlotte was the youngest in the very large family of Otis and Vera Reed from Blue Mountain, Mississippi. Charlotte was married to Jonathan “Bud” Shanks. Bud, her parents, and all of her siblings, Elihue, Lute, Lurlene, Geneva, Loyce, Cloyce, Bonnie and Shirley, precede her in death.
Charlotte and Bud had three children, Lisa Shanks of Bolivar, Tennessee, Teresa Neal of Germantown, Tennessee, and Ron Shanks (Lee Anne) of Cary, North Carolina. She leaves five grandchildren, Kevin Weaver (Jenny), Rachel Mayer (Pete), Evan Shanks (Alyssa), Elliott Shanks, and Josephine Shanks. She could find no wrong with her grandchildren and asked about them constantly. She also leaves nine great-grandchildren, Hayden, Connor, Ella, Sara, Raleigh, Tilly, Brantley, River and Micah. Additionally, Charlotte leaves a host of nieces, nephews, and friends who became family.
Charlotte and Bud married very early, while he was serving in the U.S. Navy. She raised her three children much of the time, all alone, while Bud was out to sea. The family moved almost a dozen times as they grew up. She put her three children first, and made certain they always had what they needed. She was very proud of them and their accomplishments. Charlotte had a heart for her extended family and enjoyed time with them every chance she had.
She enjoyed music and played the piano or pipe organ in most of the churches she attended. She could even be talked into playing while in assisted living. Charlotte also loved Memphis Tiger basketball. While working at a local hospital lab, she studied and obtained her certification as a lab technician. She worked in several hospitals, and physicians’ offices over the years, but her favorite job was being a grandparent. Sadly Alzheimer’s robbed her of getting to know all her great-grandchildren the same way she knew her grandchildren.
Charlotte’s celebration of life will be on Sunday, August 1 at Memphis Funeral Home, 5599 Poplar Avenue. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Since Sunday would have been her 80th birthday, we will also be celebrating her birthday, so bring a balloon if you would like.
Our family wishes to especially thank the Gardens of Germantown, they made her last days happier.
