Charles Edwards, Jr.

Service Details

Homegoing Celebration: Friday, March 23, 2018 at 11:00 am in Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home with Bishop J. Mark Freeman officiating.

Viewing: in the funeral home on Friday, March 23rd from 9:00 – 11:00 am

Racine – Charles Edwards Jr., age 65, passed away on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee, surrounded by his loving family.

Charles was born in Isola, Mississippi on December 14, 1952. On July 9, 1976 in Racine, he was united in marriage with the love of his life, Altoria (nee: Knuckles). Charles was employed by the City of Racine – Department of Public Works in various positions, retiring as a bridge tender.

Among his interests, Charles loved working on cars, taking care of home projects, yardwork, appreciated being outdoors, was a master of the BBQ grill, enjoyed playing cards & a good game of dominoes, and was a sports enthusiast – who was a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Above all, Charles enjoyed time spent with family and friends and will be dearly missed.

Surviving are his loving wife of nearly 42 years, Altoria Edwards; mother, Alberta (nee: Hutchins) Lofton; son, Charles Edwards III; daughter, Felicia Azalia Edwards; grandchildren, Dar’Quice Jamal Edwards, Antonio Lamar Edwards and Desiree Montinique Edwards; great-grandchildren, Lebron Haynes and Madison Edwards; sisters, Paulette Edwards and Kimberly Edwards; brothers, Ronnie (Kelly) Edwards and Sylvestor Johnson; aunts, Mary Alice (Charles) Woods, Joanna (Arnaway) Johnson and Rosie Long; uncles, W.D. Powell and Dimpsey (Soniya) Powell; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Sammy (Emma) Smith, Rev. Tommie Knuckles, Jonnie B. Knuckles, Louise Smith, Ora Gray, Hattie Knuckles, Carey (Cheryl) Knuckles, Sampson Knuckles, Earl (Sarita) Knuckles, Ruby (Louis) Buckingham, Classie West, Dorothy (Willie) Burnett, Jeff Knuckles, Odesser (Greg) Maxie, Harvey Knuckles and Willie B. Knuckles; many special nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends – too numerous to mention by name.

Charles was preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Katrina Latoya Edwards on April 20, 2017; father, Charles Edwards Sr.; step-father, Nelson Lofton Jr.; brother, Bernard Edwards; Altoria’s parents, Odesser (nee: Burns) and Joseph C. Knuckles Sr.; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Emma Knuckles, Elizabeth Smith, James Gray, Bill West Sr., Deacon Joseph Knuckles, Jacqueline Knuckles, Fabianne Knuckles and Nathaniel Smith; and uncle, Joe Louis Powell.

A Homegoing Celebration will be held on Friday, March 23, 2018 at 11:00 am in Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home with Bishop J. Mark Freeman officiating. Interment will follow in West Lawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Friday from 9:00 – 11:00 am.

A heartfelt note of thanks to the incredibly caring staff members of Ascension All Saints Hospital especially Dr. Marc Kennedy and floors 2D & 3D and to Froedtert Hospital – especially the physicians and nurses of the TICU for doing everything in their power in trying to save Charles’ life. May God bless all of you!