Charles Earls

Charles Earls – Not a Self-Made Man On Thursday, June 24, 1965, Charles Dean Earls made his debut and his journey in this natural world began. He was the third of three children and thus ‘The Baby Brother’. He was born to Earnest & Catherine Earls at what was known then as Hall County Hospital in Gainesville, Georgia. He grew up in the Gainesville community that is fondly known as “Newtown” – a community that was always near and dear to his heart, and forever ingrained as a part of his everyday life. He was blessed with an infectious smile and a distinct magnetic personality that he wore with both humility and an appropriate measure of confidence. Charles grew up in the Methodist Faith attending both his Mom’s (Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church in Gillsville, GA) and Dad’s (Hickory Grove Christian Methodist Church in Dahlonega, GA) houses of worship. In December 1980, at the age of 15, while attending weekly bible studies hosted by his uncle, Pastor Joseph C. Earls, he chose to surrender his life to Christ. Charles’ parents were both history makers. His father, Earnest Earls, Sr., as one of the first two African American police officers with the Gainesville Police Department retiring with a nearly 40-year career in law enforcement. His mom, Catherine Earls, was the first African American Bookmobile Librarian in Hall County. Charles was educated in the Gainesville City School system and spent a significant amount of time at the Gainesville Boys Club playing basketball with people who ended up being among his lifelong community of friends. His mom, who was a basketball player herself in high school is the one who taught Charles the game. He played basketball with the Gainesville High School Red Elephants Varsity Men’s team achieving such accomplishments as 403 rebounds during his senior year alone, over 800 rebounds in his career, and over eleven hundred points over his varsity experience. He couldn’t be guarded and was phenomenal on the floor! He was noted as the “key to success” on his team, the ultimate player that could do it all. His high school athletic career culminated in back-to-back winning seasons in State AAA Basketball (1983 and 1984). Charles went on to continue to hone his talent at the collegiate level with a full athletic scholarship to Georgia Southern University earning a baccalaureate degree in Education in 1989. At Georgia Southern he became a member of the Omicron Phi Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. After college, Charles opted to exercise several international basketball opportunities, which included playing with teams in Milan, Italy, Barcelona, Spain and Beijing, China. Opting to return to the U.S. and his Georgia roots Charles pivoted, stepping in his dad’s zone in law enforcement (Investigations, State Corrections and Bail Bonding). While working in the state penal system, he was able to design and implement a physical education program for the detainees. After nearly a decade in this field Charles found his true gift to be in mentoring youth in preparation for next level athletics. He envisioned working with young people to prevent them from getting involved in situations and circumstances that would lead to losing their legal rights. He went in full pursuit of that goal and back to his love for the game of basketball. In 2000, Charles went full-on into a career path that he had been born for – Athletic Administration and Sports Management. Center Court Sports & Fitness was a vision that was birthed into reality in Stone Mountain. He took the 55,000 square foot facility and turned it into a basketball / sports training facility that operated 24/7. Center Court offered gym memberships, aerobics, boxing, martial arts, weightlifting and even a snack bar! Talk about forward thinking! During this time, he also worked as a sports agent representing more than 20 athletes and entertainers. Training and development services were provided for NBA, NFL, and MLB players. More than 400 athletes went on to colleges and universities across the country. In 2015, he was so intrigued by an opportunity that he made yet another pivot from consistent travel to more community-based youth-focused service. He took the position of Recreational, Sports & Fitness Director at Rehoboth Baptist Church in Tucker, GA where he was back to foundational, programmatic, intentional work that targeted the health and welfare of individuals at every age which included a diverse population of recreational sports, fitness programs and activities which included hiking, camping, archery, skeet shooting, cardio, aerobics, and all things ball! In addition to these activities, he was charged to lead an After School program for at-risk boys and girls. A program was crafted teaching Law & Justice, Math & English, Life Skills and Basketball Training, along with human trafficking awareness, CPR, First Aid and AED training - sponsored by the USDOJ. Charles found great passion for this work and compassion for all he was blessed to encounter. He was ready, able and more than willing to serve a community like the one he grew up in. A community that had become very much a part of the man he had become. A community like “Newtown” in his hometown. He counted his experience at Rehoboth a gift and a blessing so much so that he joined the church and was baptized by Pastor Troy Bush. In addition to Charles’ passion and call to serve he had some very particular past-times that he had a great affinity for. His multipotentiality resulted from his natural inclination to pursue excellence and hone his skill and expertise in several vocations. Just a few of those hobbies (alter egos) included Golfer, Master Chef (both in the kitchen and outdoor grill), Auto Aficionado and Carpenter. Charles was the recipient of many auspicious awards over the course of his life. Just a few weeks ago (April 2022) Charles was honored as an inductee of the Gainesville High School Athletic Hall of Fame along with his beloved team members of the 1983 & 1984 Gainesville High Men’s Basketball team. That GHS team achieved back-to-back State Championships – an amazing feat that had not been achieved before - nor since then repeated. Charles was not a self-made man. Nor was he a simple product of any environment. He was a student and a steward of the Life Journey. He recognized early on that there was always something to learn and that we have responsibility for ourselves and others that must be both accepted and consistently exercised. He understood that he had both a path and a purpose and just enough faith to walk in his. While considered an ultimate athlete’s athlete, for him there was nothing more important than faith and family, and he dearly loved being “Dad” to his children. He ran his race, finished his course in this natural world on Wednesday, June 1 and was traded to Heaven. The solid bond of love he made and nurtured with his children will never be broken and remain a part of them. He left everything on the court. Well done … good and faithful servant! Well done. Charles was preceded in death by his grandparents, Reno and Jessie Earls and John & Essie Buffington, parents, Earnest E. and Catherine B. Earls, and his eldest daughter, Chelsea Danielle Earls. He leaves the memories of his unlimited love, commitment, integrity, moral character, wisdom and faith to his children, Correy Earls, Eboni (Raymond) LaRue, Cortnei Earls, Coy Earls and Coby Earls. He also leaves to cherish his memories his siblings: Lisa Earls and Gene Earls and Nieces and Nephews: Dr. Asha Bolton, Ari Waller, Ezaunie Earls and Emekka Earls, Aunts: Sylvia Earls and Velma Earls, and a host of endeared family and friends and across the globe.