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Charlotte Bliss had been my condo neighbor for almost 18 years or more. She was always willing to lend a hand when she could, whether it was keeping an eye on your place or getting your mail when you were away…and many times when she went to Pal’s for a hotdog, she got me one, too.

Charlotte died September 9 at the age of 89. She was one of nine children of the late Harry and Jennie Eggers Wolfe. Five sisters and a brother preceded her in death.

She also was preceded in death by her first husband, Kenneth Lewis, and her second husband, Howard Bliss.

Church and family were important to Charlotte. Until she became unable to attend, which was only about three or four years ago, Charlotte seldom missed a service or event at Bible Baptist Church. She loved her church friends, and whenever they got together, they had a lot of fun.

Some things I learned quickly about Charlotte after she moved across the driveway from me was that she liked to look good when she went out. Her hair was always combed neatly, and she had her make-up on. When she became unable to go to the beauty shop, her hairdresser came to the house on Saturday.

She also liked a neat yard, free of weeds.

Charlotte enjoyed visits from her friends and neighbors, and she especially enjoyed visits from her granddaughter, Alex, and her son, Rusty, and daughter, Glenda. When Rusty came on Sunday, he usually brought lunch.

Like most people her age, Charlotte enjoyed watching TV, especially the news. 

When her sisters, Roberta and Clara, were living and able, they visited often, and what good times they had on her back porch. Sister Voleen, who is a resident at Ivy Hall, also visited often.

Charlotte liked fast food – especially Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pal’s hotdogs. She also enjoyed her coffee and paper in the morning.

Before moving to Race Street, Charlotte lived at Hunter across the road from her mother. “Family was important to her,” said her son, Rusty. “Every evening there were aunts and cousins at my grandmother’s, and we all got together and played Rook or watched the Atlanta Braves if they were playing. My mother worked hard. She worked at Levi-Strauss, and later went to work at Texas Instruments, retiring from there. She always worked the evening or night shift. She wanted to make sure that my sister and I got an education and what we needed,” Rusty shared.

“Her life was her family and church. Church was her social life. After she married Howard, they went to some places. He was good for her,” Rusty shared.

Growing up, Rusty said the family lived on S. Second Street. After his grandmother’s death, his mother and Howard moved to town. Howard died in 2015.

“My sister and I always came first with my mother. She was firm, but she was loving, and she tried to make sure we got what we needed. She was a very caring person,” Rusty shared.

As a neighbor, Charlotte was very supportive, and if there was a need, she tried to meet it.

 

One of my fondest memories of Charlotte was helping her catch a stray cat, which was getting into her basement at night through an outside vent…and then when we finally caught it, we didn’t know what to do with it. After a good laugh, a neighbor across the street came to our rescue and took it off our hands…and far away.

It is true that a good neighbor is a found treasure, and there is nothing in the world so good as good neighbors. Charlotte Bliss was a good neighbor – one you could always count on.