Charles Henry Davis III

Charles Henry Davis III
January 18, 1961, to July 20, 2022

Charles Henry Davis III was born to Charles Henry Davis II and Mary Lareese
Carter Davis in Washington, D.C. His parents, Charles Sr. preceded him in death
on February 21, 2018, and Mary on October 26, 2000.
Charles began his education began at Walker Jones Elementary on New
Jersey Avenue, Washington, D.C. After the family moved to Prince Georges
County Maryland, Charles and his sisters were bused from the neighborhood
school to William Beans Elementary School in Hillcrest Heights Maryland due to
Prince George’s public school district being under a federal desegregation order.
Charles completed his middle school education at Francis Scott Key Middle
School followed by some time at Suitland High School and finishing his
education at Central High School. Charles was exceptionally talented in
basketball. He played for his high school and continued as an adult playing with
friends and those in the neighborhood. He also passed his love for basketball to
his son Chris.
As a teenager he participated in the PG County Summer Youth Employment
program. His cousin Darrell (Skippy) Brooks provided him an opportunity to work
at Gino’s chicken franchise and after a fire at Gino’s, he went to work for Holly
Farms Chicken franchise near the family house on D Street, S.E., Washington, DC.
Charles Sr. worked at Vector, a software supplies and engineering
company, and an opportunity arose where the company was looking for someone
to fill a Computer Operator position. Charles was recommended and was hired.
During this time Charles stretched into being an entrepreneur when he partnered
with some friends and began an office cleaning business where they cleaned
offices in the area at night. This business venture continued for about a year and
a half. Also, during this time Charles expressed that the family needed to be more
financially conscious and teamed up with his cousin Aaron (Poppy) and long-time
friend Henry Brown to start the Family Investment Club (FIC). He used the
investment club to tutor his family about investments and to be more
conscientious in their financial decisions to create generational wealth within the
family. Another venture included his high school best friends/brothers, Ervin, and
Carl “BB” Harris to establish a consultant group titled EBC which is the first letter

of their names. Vector was absorbed by the United Food and Commercial Worker
Union (UFCW). Charles had an incredibly involved career with UFCW. During his
tenure with them he recognized inconsistencies and unfairness in how employees
were being treated and promoted. He led the employees in facilitating changes
with the Union. UFCW reassigned Charles to their Harmarville Pennsylvania office
in Pittsburg. Charles ended his career with UFCW when he retired on February 14,
2022.
Charles started his family with sons Charles Lavon Powell and Christopher
Lee Davis. Charles Powell preceded him in death on September 5, 2001. Charles
expanded his family when he moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He fostered
another son, Brooklyn Davis in 2003. Chris and Brooklyn kept Charles on his toes
as well as their many friends who came to love and respect Charles. Even after
they graduated from high school, Darnae Edwards, Angel Vaughn, James Barnaba,
Julian, Eric “Radio” Williams, Benjamin “Buddy” Gaines, Emil Robinson, and many
others stayed connected with Charles. Charles was known as the neighborhood
dad.
Charles met his life partner in 2008, Brenda Conn. Through Brenda,
Charles now had two daughters, Latoyia “Toy” and Brandi, and another son,
Curtis, and a host of grandchildren. Grandchildren: Aaliyah, Aniyah, Curtis Jr,
Nyzaire, Curmaura, Julian, Jalyn, and Brooke. Charles loved his big family. He
loved being with them and the grandchildren. He would take every opportunity
to spoil his grandchildren and challenge their parents. Who knew that Charles
would love having tea parties with Aliyah and would be one of the primary
clients for Brooke’s “Princess Boutique”! Charles encouraged Jalyn’s fascination
with the Minions by ensuring he had all of them. This was a challenge for Brandi
as she had to figure out how Jalyn could carry them with him. Charles also
enjoyed the company of Brenda’s five brothers, Roy, James, William, Marvin, and
Aaron. He enjoyed spirited conversations with them about sports and politics.
He so challenged them in politics that they playfully named him “Trump Jr.”
Brooklyn also provided Charles with three grandchildren to keep him
busy. Granddaughter Brooklyn and grandsons Isaiah and James.
Charles also had “Grand Dogs” through his son Chris and fiancée Cierra.
Whenever he would visit, Snoopy, Ginger and Blue would show how much they

loved him by sleeping with him even though there was not enough room in the
bed.
Charles also believed in encouraging the youth and supporting his
community. Charles formed the FIC Elite Basketball Team which he sponsored
and brought to DC to compete in the annual “DC Hoop-it-Up” basketball
tournament. They qualified and competed for three years.
Charles believed and lived the meaning of family which began with his
close relationships with his sisters Alicia, Lynda and Chevette. The active belief
in family was magnified when the family moved to D.C. As the oldest
(although he called Alicia the oldest) he ensured the family was always
supported to include the births and raising of his nieces, Nycole, Lyndi, and
Jessyca, great-nieces Chrysten, Ashley, Soraiya, Alaina. While living in D.C.,
they all mainly lived at the D.C. residence on D. Street to include Chris, which
even more solidified the family bond.
As Charles came from a big extended family of girls, he and dad,
Charles Sr, took the responsibility of being there for his mothers’ sisters and
father’s sisters, Margie and Rosie, seriously. Although Charles cared for all his
mother’s sisters, Hazel, Sharon, Christine, Patricia, Barbara, Karen, and
Lynette, he had a special bond with Aunt Yvette. All his aunts were involved
in his life.
When Charles made a friend, it was for life. When he met Ervin Harris,
Carl “BB” Harris, and Kenneth Coleman. High School, they started as friends
and became brothers. When the family moved to D Street, he met Ronnie
Young, Gilbert Barclift, Terry West, Dwight Paris, Stanley and Reggie
“PeeWee” Austin, Renee, Terry and Duan Kornegay, Big Jim, Cleveland, Henry
Brown, David Stanley, Terry Henderson, Teresa Randall, Mark Davis, Faye
Hubbard, and Margaret Mohammad to name a few have been lifelong
friends. When Charles moved to Pittsburg he connected with Jerome Bryant,
Darby Tigney, Lamar, Mr. Rob, Ramone and family, Jim Sauka and family, Alan
Troyan and family, and Julian Scott who became steadfast friends.
Charles loved music and had an extensive collection of original vinyl
records. He shared his love of music with all his family and friends. He had a

“Hot Wheels” collection that would astound anyone. Charles is also an avid
collector of “everything else.” His love of cars led him to working with Frank
Valforte at Eurostatda Automotive. Frank Valforte and Charles became
remarkably close friends. Charles often spoke to his family about the times he
spent with Frank working/not working on cars. Charles' love for cars started
with his first which was a white TransAm as a teenager followed by a 300ZX
and subsequently a Maxima, Volvo, and many more to follow.
Charles loved his sports and no matter how many losses he still
supported the Washington Redskins (he did not like the name Commanders)
and followed the Bullets, now the Wizards. Although he had been residing in
Pittsburg for many years, he never gave up on the Washington sports teams.
Charles lived a full and exciting life. This is just a small sampling of his
extraordinary life and his love of family and friends. We all remember a
conversation or debate with him. His mind and heart were open to many
aspects of life and would not hesitate to engage you with something he came
across or one of his unusual jokes. It was nothing for him to call you and start
a discussion or just check to see how you were doing. Charles’ legacy is not
only his children and grandchildren but all of us!
Charles memory and a part of him will continue to live through Brenda
Conn, his life partner, children Christopher, Brooklyn, Curtis, Latoyia, and
Brandi. His sisters and brothers, Chris Davis, Donna Davis, Shirley White, Alicia
Davis Waters (Gregory), Lynda Kelly (Duke), and Chevette Davis. His much-
loved grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. The many extended family and
friends will help keep Charles with us when a conversation is recalled, when a
joke he told his heard, or when in quite reflection. He will always be with all of us.