Charles Owen Burden, Sr.

Charles Owen Burden Sr. was born on December 18, 1955, in Salitpa, Alabama and passed away at his home in Crestview, Florida on April 19, 2025, after more than ten years fighting cancer.  Charles was well loved by many and had friends around the globe.  

The eighth child born to Earnest Johnson and Earlean Gwinn Burden, Charles grew up attending Springfield A.M.E. Zion Church before joining the Army after graduating from Jackson High School in 1974.  He would go on to serve for over 20 years before retiring with the rank of Staff Sergeant.  His time in the Army allowed him to travel the world, serving at posts in far flung locations such as Alaska, Colorado, Maryland, Germany, Korea, and Okinawa.  After retirement, Charles obtained a Bachelor's Degree in History from Metropolitan State University of Denver.

Throughout his life, Charles served his community.  He held positions as a coach and referee for youth and adult basketball, baseball, softball, and football.  He was a member of the Denver Association of Black Basketball Officials (DABBO) and USA Softball, formerly The Amateur Softball Association (ASA). He was a lifetime member of The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA) a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and actively volunteered with the USO. He was an auxiliary member and faithfully attended services at Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church in Crestview where he served on the Stewart Board and Sons of Allen. He also taught Adult Sunday School class on occasion.  

Charles' memory is kept by Sandra, his spouse of 42 years, his two children: Ashley and Charles Jr., his siblings: Earnestine Turner, Mary Daffin and her husband Samuel, Samuel Burden and his wife Nancy, Shirley Burden, Deidra Darcell Burden, Irma Burden, Gwendolyn Montgomery and her husband Samuel, and Randall Burden and his wife Varice, as well as family members he grew up with in Salitpa: Percy “Michael” Burden, Shelia Burden, Patricia Burden Coats, and Cheryl Burden McDole, and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.    

Preceding him in death are his parents, Earnest Johnson and Earlean Gwinn Burden, maternal grandparents, Owen Gwinn and Melvina Gwinn Clark, paternal grandparents, Earnest and Mary Ann Burden, sister Mattie Burden, brother Earnest “Sporty” Burden Jr., and nephews, Ivory James and De'Tron Burden.

Services will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2025, with a viewing at 1:00 p.m. and funeral beginning at 2:00 p.m. at Mt. Zion A.M.E. located at 502 Macdonald St., Crestview, FL. 32536.  The services will also be streamed via Zoom.  The Service of Committal will take place Sunday, April 27, at 1:00 p.m., in Salitpa, Alabama following public viewing and Commemoration Celebration at Jackson Memorial Funeral Home, 203 East Ross St., Jackson, Alabama, 36545

Arrangements are under the direction of Davis-Watkins Funeral Home, Crestview, Florida.