About Us

Charles R. Williams, Sr. was born in Marshall, MO and was a graduate of Marshall High School class of 1958.  He attended Missouri Valley College in Marshall and graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago, Illinois in 1962.  He moved to Charleston, MO in 1966 to work for L.R. Sparks Funeral Home as a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer.  He later became part owner and operator of the funeral home.  Charles has over fifty years of experience and now owns three funeral homes in Howardville, Sikeston, and Charleston. In 1970, he was elected to Charleston City Council and was appointed the first black mayor in Southeast Missouri with a majority of white population.  Some of the highlights that happened during his tenure as mayor of Charleston were: he signed a proclamation for the United Fund; participated in the groundbreaking ceremonies for the new City Hall of which his name is on the plaque outside the building; and also gave a speech and welcomed Governor Warren E. and Betty Hearnes home during a "Welcome Home Celebration."Charles has many accomplishments.  He has spent countless hours involved in the community.  He is a former member of the Delta Area Equal Opportunity Council (DAEOC) Board, United Fund Board, and Bootheel Economic Development Council.  He was appointed to the Sikeston Area Committee of the Farmers Home Administration (FHA) for three years, and was also appointed to the Bootheel Regional Planning Commission.  He served as a past President of the Southeast Missouri Funeral Directors Association, a past President of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and is a lifetime member of the NAACP.  Charles is a past "Master" of Harmony Lodge No:40 F and AM of Cape Girardeau, MO and was recently honored for having achieved 40 plus years of service.  He was a Human Resource Development Member, a former Little League Baseball Coach, a member of the Ten Tall Ones Civic Club, a member of the Urban Renewal Board, Chamber of Commerce and a former member of the Susanna Wesley Learning Center Board. In 1973, Charles was published in the book of Outstanding Young Men of America.  He was a founding member of the Black Mayors Conference in 1974 in Fayette, Mississippi.  In 1994, he, along with the twelve other founding members, was honored in Washington, DC during a national conference.  Currently, there are over four hundred fifty black mayors.  Charles has received the NAACP Service Award from the City of Charleston, the Mayor's Award and the Community Citizens Award.  He was presented the "key" to Sikeston at one time. Charles assisted Helen Currin with the first Nutrition Center in Charleston, with the help of only volunteers, to ensure that senior citizens would get one hot meal a day.  The first day only fifteen people were served and only one white person attended every day.  In less than two years, there were over 10,000 free meals served and delivered with donated food until government assistance was obtained. He is a proud sponsor of the  "Gospel Hour" that airs every Sunday morning from 8am - 10am on 92.9 FM.  In 2005, he was presented a plaque in appreciation of 18 years of continued sponsorship of The Gospel Hour Radio Ministry given by the 92.9 FM Gospel Hour Staff. In September of 2014, Mr. Williams was the Grand Marshall of the Love Thy Neighbor parade in Charleston. During that same month on the 13th, he was honored by having the former Mark Twain Park renamed in his honor. The park is located on the corner of Lafayette and North Elm Streets. The celebration continued the following day when he and his wife were praised at the Bowden Civic Center by family and friends for their continued dedication and commitment to the area in which they live. In February 2015, Charles and Marilyn were recognized by Cornerstone Baptist Church in Sikeston during their Black History Celebration for their outstanding service to their community. Charles is a member of Mercy Seat Missionary Baptist Church and former director of the youth choir.  He married Marilyn Joann in 1963 and they have three children, Charles, Jr., Stephanie and Monica, and four grandchildren, Anthony Crawford Jr., Marissa Crawford, Isaiah Williams, and Le'Niya Brown.  He is a great family man with many outstanding qualities and values.  He is always there for his family and community when needed.