Charles Elliott

Charles Elliott age 74 of Clarksville. Memorial Service 4:00 p.m. Saturday, July 17, 2021 at Burt Cobb Community Center.

Charlie was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Thomas Elliott, father, Joe T. Elliott Sr., brothers: Joe T. Elliott, Jr., George Elliott and Donald Elliott and sister, Pamela Vernon.

Charlie was educated in Montgomery County, TN and graduated from Burt High School in 1965. After high school he attended Talladega College in Talladega, AL on an academic scholarship where he became a top basketball star. Charlie pledged Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity while at Talladega. He graduated Talladega in 1969.

Coach Ben Jobe of Talladega’s boys’ basketball team recruited Charlie to return to Talladega to become his assistant basketball coach and later becoming the head coach of Talladega’s Tornadoes Basketball team, 1974-1980. He was the youngest coach in that area.

After a profound career of coaching, Charlie was offered a position with the City of Clarksville’s Parks and Recreation as Director of Clarksville’s first black community center, the Burt-Cobb Community Center. In this leadership role he mentored numerous children, youth, young adults and adults through disciplined and organized activities. He contributed effective leadership to society to create unity among all nationalities. Eventually, Charlie was promoted to Director of Parks and Recreation where he served until his retirement in 2008.

In walking in the Spirit of Burt High School, Charlie was the second elected president of the Historic Burt High School Reunion Association, serving two terms in leadership.

Charlie was also a faithful member of S.t Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church where he served in several different capacities. Charlie loved his church.

Charlie was united in Holy Matrimony to Janice Shelton on July 30, 2015. This marriage became a magnitude of love, commitment, trust, devotion and pride. “But, there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.” Job 2:8.

And now the end is here and Charlie has faced the final curtain of his journey. Remembering the steps of Charlie’s journey are his wife, Janice Everett Elliott; daughters: Dara Shawn Elliott, Nikki Charlese Elliott-Russell (Mel), Cleveland, OH, Amber VanMansfeld, Daytona Beach, FL, Ereka Elliott Clark (Charles) Clarksville, TN; son, Eric Shelton (Quinika), Bermuda; sister, Gwendolyn Elliott Hale-Gunn (John) Hampton, VA; grandchildren: Layla Reese Clark & Jackson Charles Clark, all of Clarksville, TN, Savannah Adara Goins, Jonathan Charles Goins, Donald Andrew Goins, Nicholas Handsel Graham and Immanuel Adam Poindexter, all of Cleveland, OH, James Elliott-Wallace, Richmond VA, Tailor Shelton, Danielle Golden and Blake Shelton, all of Atlanta, GA, Yasmin Rathur, Alexandria Rathur and Preston VanMansfeld, all of Daytona Beach, FL; two great-grandchildren; cousin, Robert “Red” Warfield, Nashville, TN; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Mask are required. Live streaming via Foston Funeral Home Facebook.