2020 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 62
BY SENATOR PETERSON
A RESOLUTION
To express the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of
Louisiana upon the death of Dr. James Edward Charles, an African-American
trailblazer in the Terrebonne Parish public school system.
WHEREAS, it is with great sadness that Louisiana learned of the death of James
Charles on May 20, 2020, at the age of seventy-seven; and
WHEREAS, James Charles, born on June 29, 1942, to Benjamin Sr. and Sadie
Westley Charles, was a native of Terrebonne Parish, and a resident of Houma, Louisiana;
and
WHEREAS, his interest in education, as a lifetime force deeply instilled by his
mother Sadie, along with his personal goal of expecting the best of himself and of those he
encountered, was the perfect footprint for his life accomplishments; and
WHEREAS, James Charles received his Bachelor, Master, and Honorary Doctorate
degrees from Southern University A&M College; and
WHEREAS, Dr. James Charles began his career in 1969 as a math teacher at
Southdown High School in Houma during the year the school was converted from an all
black student body to an integrated elementary school; and
WHEREAS, he taught throughout the parish before becoming an elementary math
curriculum specialist, an assistant principal, and a coordinator of migrant education; and
WHEREAS, in 1988, he was named the first African-American principal at a high
school in Terrebonne Parish at Ellender Memorial High School, a school with a reputation
for being a place where nobody cared to learn; and
WHEREAS, under Dr. James Charles' tutelage, the school's image was turned around
and a philosophy was ingrained in the school motto, "If you thought you could, you could.";
and
Page 1 of 2 SR NO. 62 ENROLLED
WHEREAS, in 1979, Dr. James Charles began his administrative career as an
assistant principal, served as supervisor of secondary adult and vocational education, and as
Interim Superintendent of Terrebonne; and
WHEREAS, during this time many of his co-workers described his keen
administrative skills as charismatic because of his commitment to treating people with
dignity which made him unique; and
WHEREAS, Dr. James Charles completed his thirty-three years as an educator as the
first African-American Assistant Superintendent of the Terrebonne Parish School Board; and
WHEREAS, he is survived by his wife, Bernadine Poindexter Charles; four
daughters, Tanya Brown, Arlanda J. Williams, Angela Charles, Heather Gobert (Robert); six
grandchildren; Joshua Williams, Chelsea Charles, Jere' Williams, Cody and Carson Brown,
and Roman Gobert; a brother, Leroy Charles; a sister, Joyce Judy Charles-Bolden, and a host
of other relatives and friends; and
WHEREAS, he was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers, paternal and
maternal grandparents, and a son-in-law, Dwayne Washington; and
WHEREAS, of the many who were blessed to know Dr. James Edward Charles, they
would say he lived out his credos that he taught them: "When you enter a place, enter as a
gentleman. When you leave, always leave as one."
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby extend sincere condolences to Dr. James Edward Charles' family on the
occasion of his passing.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to his
wife, Bernadine Poindexter Charles.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
Page 2 of 2