When Dr. Charles L. Houston, Jr. passed into eternity on October 19 of this year, it was because of circumstances not at all unusual for Charles. That is, he was at Sapelo Island for a Gullah-Geechee Heritage Festival, in his capacity as a chaplain for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, when the boat ramp he was standing on collapsed.
Although retired from his long-time calling as a United Methodist minister, his dedication to supporting the spiritual needs of others transcended the traditional pulpit ministry. Charles was well known throughout the State of Georgia, and beyond, for his chaplaincy work with various public safety organizations.
Spanning 48 years, his first involvement with public safety agencies began when he served as pastor of the Plains, Georgia United Methodist Church, where he was a member of the Plains Volunteer Fire Department and was appointed police chaplain there.
From that initial small-town experience in public safety, Charles went on to become a well-respected chaplain for various agencies, including the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Georgia Department of Public Safety (Georgia State Patrol/Motor Carrier Compliance Division), and Georgia Department of Natural Resources.
During Charles’ time at Statesboro First United Methodist Church, he was always anxious to swap stories about his experiences with law enforcement agencies. My brother-in-law was a long-time employee of the Georgia Department of Public Safety/State Patrol, and Charles always made sure to ask how he was. The public safety fraternity was strong.
In addition, Charles had a close cousin who owns a funeral home, the one which would eventually handle his service, so we had another common thread to tie us together, given my long-time career as a funeral director.
When not discussing public safety or funeral profession stories, we likely were sharing stories about being band geeks. Both of us were involved in high school band, and we both played in the brass ensemble at Statesboro First.
It was those rehearsals which gave me the chance to get to know Charles on a much more personal level. I could not have been prouder when my daughter and son-in-law chose Charles to officiate at their wedding. His connection to our family was strong, and our sense of loss is equally strong.
Charles never struck me as the typical United Methodist minister. Certainly, he led his flock, preached from the pulpit, and did all the things a typical minister does, or should do, but he was much more than that. He was a true friend to everyone who allowed him to be.
It didn’t matter to Charles about one’s station in life, one’s bank account, or how much someone had done for the church. He liked people for who they were, where they were, with no pretense or judgment.
I often think his interest and success as a public safety chaplain was rooted in his ability to be on the same level of law enforcement, firefighters, paramedics, and others. Anyone who has been around those communities of professionals knows they have somewhat unique senses of being. They see a part of life that most people never have to see, often at the worst times of someone’s life.
Charles could relate to the caregivers and the victims, making a connection that allowed even the most hardened officer to share an emotional moment, or the most devastated victim to feel comforted.
That capacity to connect was what made Charles not only a great minister, but a truly genuine Christian. He embraced the true meaning of loving your neighbor, no matter who or what that neighbor may be—something that many who profess to be Christian seem to have forgotten.
Charles never picked and chose who he would accept into his flock or his arms of comfort, and for that, many people loved and appreciated him, and now join Elizabeth, Heather, Trey, and other family members, in missing his sincere Christian spirit.
During this time of year, it is appropriate to be thankful for the testament of love that was Charles Houston, and for the memories of Charles upon which we can warmly reflect.