Beverly Jean Charles

Beverly Jean Charles, 53 of Springfield, died at 6:05 a.m. Friday, January 28, 2005 at St. John’s Hospital Hospice. Beverly was born January 17, 1952 in Springfield, the daughter of Clement R. and Verna Miller Charles. Ms. Charles was a graduate of Sacred Heart Academy. She received her Associates Degree in Liberal Arts from Lincoln Land Community College and her Bachelors Degree in Communications from the University of Illinois at Springfield. She also received her Paralegal Certificate from American Institute of Paralegal Studies and completed 20 hours of post-graduate work in legal studies at the University of Illinois at Springfield. During college Beverly worked part-time as a news reporter and anchor at the university radio station and for the LPGA Rail Charity Golf Classic as assistant to the Executive Director. After college she worked as a public relations and marketing coordinator in Phoenix for the LPGA Sun City Classic and the Arizona Emergency Medical Systems, Wayne R. Golomb, Attorney at Law as a legal secretary/paralegal assistant, Illinois Hunger Coalition as an outreach coordinator and most recently for the Springfield Community Federation/Lee Community Resource Center as an economic development specialist and caseworker. She was a past volunteer at the Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation, past member of the Ministerial Search Committee, past coordinator of CUUP'S group at church, past chair of the Nominating Committee and served as a teacher for Religious Education Program for youth. She was a member of the Board of Directors for Helping Hands Shelter and Chair of the 2000, 2001 and 2002 Soup Supper fund-raiser. She was a volunteer for Helping Hands Shelter, and Heartland Peace Coalition. She was an immediate past co-chair of the Steering Committee for the Coalition to Promote Human Dignity and Diversity and she was also a former street director for the Glen-Aire Neighborhood Association. Beverly was the recipient of the Humanitarian of the Year Award by the Springfield Interfaith Association in October 2004. She was preceded in death by her father. She is survived by her son: Shawnadese “Shawn” Charles of Greenview; mother: Verna Charles of Springfield; half sister: Adolphine “Dolly” of Virden; half brother: Kenneth R. Shores of Springfield; two uncles; one nephew and several cousins. The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Monday, January 31, 2005 at Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home, 900 S 6th St. Springfield. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, January 31, 2005 at Kirlin-Egan and Butler Funeral Home with Rev. Martin Woulfe officiating. Burial will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park Cemetery. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 5, 2005 at the Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 745 Woodside Rd. Springfield with Rev. Martin Woulfe officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to Shawn R. Charles Education Fund c/o Abraham Lincoln Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 745 Woodside Rd. Springfield, IL 62711. The family of Beverly Jean Charles is being served by Kirlin-Egan & Butler Funeral Home, 900 S. 6th St. Springfield.