We Remember With Love...

Charles Lawson Coulbourn, Sr., son of Charles and Carrie Coulbourn, was born on March 25, 1945, in Hebron, Maryland. He was called home to be with the Lord on November 29, 2025.

Charles was a student at Salisbury High School, graduating with the Class of 1963 as a proud member of the National Honor Society. His senior yearbook quote, "Failure comes before success," reflected the perseverance and wisdom that guided his life. While in high school, Charles was active in the Science Club, National Honor Society, Track, Baseball, Student Council, and Yearbook Staff.

Charles met Virgie Winder in high school. They were married on January 15, 1965, and were blessed with four beautiful children: Cheri, Charles Jr., Celeste, and Chandra. Charles and Virgie later relocated from Salisbury to Philadelphia after welcoming their firstborn.

Charles was employed with United States Steel for over thirty years, where he eventually retired. He later worked for Allied Barton as a security officer at the University of Pennsylvania, where he also retired.

Charles thoroughly enjoyed music-from reel-to-reel and eight-track tapes to vinyl (45s and 33s), and later cassettes. He carefully built an extensive music collection over the years. He also enjoyed cooking, race horses, playing cards, Monopoly, playing the lottery, and watching Westerns and a good black-and-white movie. Charles was a simple man who never spent a whole lot of money, yet knew how to enjoy the good things in life. From his 1970 candy apple red Monte Carlo to his blue Chevy, he took pride in the things that brought him joy.

Later in life, Charles was blessed with another beautiful daughter, LaTrice, by Michele Gough.

Charles deeply loved his family and regularly attended Coulbourn family reunions, where he found great joy in seeing cousins, aunts, sisters, brothers, friends, and neighbors. He had a wonderful laugh and was a joy to be around. He especially loved his native cuisine-pig's feet, lima beans with stewed tomatoes, chicken and dumplings-just good, hearty meals shared with the people he loved. He treasured time spent with his grandchildren watching them play sports, enjoy movies, eat together, talking with them, and simply holding them. Charles loved each and every one of his conversations, and simply being in his presence made those around him feel deeply loved.

Charles treasured, loved, and adored all his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. There was not a day that went by that he did not talk about or check in on his family. He was incredibly proud of each of them. He loved his children and spoke often about how proud he was of who they had become. There was nothing his children or grandchildren could ask of him that he would not do. Though he was given the opportunity to return to Maryland, he chose to remain in Philadelphia, never wanting to leave his children. Charles also greatly loved all of his nieces and nephews and shared words of wisdom with them often. His heart was a giving one-there was nothing he wouldn't do for his family or friends.

Charles faced various illnesses throughout his life with strength and resilience, including prostate cancer. Through it all, he remained a fighter and passed peacefully with a special relationship with God until his final days.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Carrie; his wife, Virgie; his daughter, Celeste; his brother, Lane; and his sisters and niece, Tina. He leaves to cherish his loving memory his children: Cheri Davis, Charles Lawson Coulbourn, Jr., Chandra Lee Coulbourn-James (Matthew) and LaTrice Hollins (Franklin); his beloved grandchildren Emanuel (Manny), Moriah, Dariel, Chamir, Mason, and Gavin; his great-granddaughter; his siblings Stella Hutt, Jackie Coulbourn, and Harriet Coulbourn; and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, other relatives, and dear friends.

Lovingly submitted,
The Family