Charlene "Cha Cha" B. Lyles

Charlene Beverly Lyles was born to Thomas Jefferson Lyles and Lois Edith Lyles (both deceased), on September 29, 1946. Her parents met in Washington, DC. Thomas Lyles was a painter for the District Government and Lois Lyles worked at the British Embassy.

Charlene grow up in Washington, DC and attended Morgan Elementary in Adams Morgan area, Francis Junior High in Georgetown and Western High School (currently Duke Ellington School of the Performing Arts). She was on the all girls basketball team at Western High. When she finished school, she began working for the federal government at the Navy Yard. Eventually she landed a position at the Pentagon working for the Chief of Naval Operations/Awards and Special Projects Division. Charlene remained in this position for many years and the Division moved to the Navy Yard where she stayed until her retirement in the early 2000s.

Charlene was a loving daughter and sister and aunt. She was a great cook, but baking was her specialty. She loved giving out her baked goods as gifts. One of her doctors loved her baked goods so much, he asked her to bake for his restaurant, but she turned the offer down because she did not want to be committed to such a huge responsibility. She needed time to travel and travel she did. She loved going to the Virgin Islands for her vacations. St. Thomas was one of favorite places to vacation. She would go every 3 weeks at a time, every year. She also loved to cruise and it meant a great deal to her to go with her niece, Kimberly. She also loved watching sports, especially basketball and football.

On October 28, 2022, Charlene passed away from a long illness.

Charlene is survived by her brother Thomas (Tommy) Lyles, Jr. and his wife Rita Lyles; sister Pamela Lyles, and brother Stanley Lyles; niece Kimberly Lyles, nephews Angelo Lyles, Louis Lyles; great-nephew Deion Lyles.

A visitation for Charlene will be held Tuesday, November 8, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM followed by the funeral service at 11:00 AM at Hines-Rinaldi Funeral Home, 11800 New Hampshire Ave, Silver Spring, Maryland 20904. The committal service and burial will occur at 12:30 PM at Maryland National Memorial Park, 13300 Baltimore Avenue, Laurel, Maryland 20707.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hinesrinaldifuneralhome.com for the Lyles family.