Charles Branch Booklet

Sunrise December 22, 1923

Sunset December 30, 2020

“And we know that all things work together for the good of them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose�. -Roman 8:28

Order of Service

Musical Prelude.............................................................................................................................Yaw Prah Minister of Music, New Hope Baptist Church Welcome......................................................................................................................................Janet Lewis Opening Prayer........................................................................................................Rev. Winslow Purham Senior Pastor, New Hope Baptist Church Scripture Readings.........................................................................................................................................

2 Timothy 4: 6-8.............................................Judith Ruiz-Branch Romans 8:28..................................................................Joi Branch Musical Selection...................................................................................................................“Here’s to Life” Maggie Bynum, Vocalist Peter Polzak, Pianist Reading........................................................The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, Elizabeth Branch-Dyson Acknowledgment of Resolutions and Tributes.......................................................................Janet Lewis Reflections.............................................................................................................................Ronald Branch Charles “Chuckie” Branch Tim Bowie Musical Selection....................................................................................................“Uncle Chuck’s Boogie” Billy Branch and Sumito Ariyoshi Video Tribute..................................................................................................................................................

Eulogy.................................................................................................................................Rev. Lori Wilbert Musical Selection........................................................................................................“One Day at a Time” Maggie Bynum, Vocalist Peter Polzak, Pianist Thank You..............................................................................................................................Patricia Cohen Lora Branch Lana Branch Final Viewing...................................................................................................................Yaw Prah, Pianist Recessional......................................................................................................................................................

“The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return”.

-Eden Ahbez

Charles (Chuck) Otis Branch was born on December 22, 1923, the third of five children to Agnes and William Branch. Wise but always humble, he is best remembered for his abundantly-loving, compassionate, and generous spirit.

Known to us, his children and grandchildren, as dad and grandpa, he insisted everyone else simply call him Chuck.

Chuck grew up in the warmth of his close family in a modest brownstone in the Chicago Woodlawn community. Whenever tearfully reminiscing about his parents, he emphasized Agnes and William’s unconditional love and integrity as a guiding force throughout his life. He would often say, “If I could be half the man that my dad was, I’d be a fantastic person.” Smart and imaginative, Chuck was a gifted writer, speaker, and storyteller who grew into a devoted man of God. Chuck’s parents moved from Texas to Chicago before any of their children were born. The family had little contact with grandparents or extended family. His parents also suffered the loss of their only daughter, little Dorothy, who passed shortly after her birth. These circumstances created a tight family bond and Chuck would always say that his brothers, Bill, Harold, and Roy were his best friends.

Chuck attended McCosh Elementary and graduated from Englewood High School in 1942. Eager to join his brothers in service to his country, Chuck had no qualms answering the call and was drafted into the United States Army in 1943. Drafted at 19 years old he was sent to Mississippi and Louisiana for Army training. Growing up in Chicago, Chuck attended an integrated high school and lived life very freely. Even though racism existed everywhere, he would often talk about his youthful culture shock as he traveled south by train. Chuck witnessed many things he had only heard about, including sharecroppers in cotton fields and the deeply segregated existence of everyday life for southern people.

When training ended, his all-Black unit was shipped across the rough Atlantic Ocean in the middle of a cold January. He described the journey in converted banana boats as feeling “packed in like sardines.”

In 1944, Chuck stormed the beaches of Normandy with thousands of other men – many doomed before they even reached the shore.

He fought valiantly and witnessed untold death and destruction on Omaha Beach. Chuck’s writing, negotiating and diplomacy talents were fully utilized in the Army and he was placed in charge of several administrative roles, including oversight of all rations and related record keeping for the platoon. Chuck would often tell stories about his experiences in the war, recounting vivid details of the people he met, his exploits, close calls, and his mental and physical battles across Europe. Chuck realized Christ spared his life when he discovered an unexploded bomb lying next to the foxhole, where he sought shelter all night. Later that morning, he was baptized in that same foxhole.

When the war ended, Chuck’s company came home on a large ocean liner called the USS Argentina. He recounted how joyful they all felt when catching sight of the Statue of Liberty as they entered New York Harbor.

Shortly after returning home from the war, Chuck was introduced to Ramona Thompson and her sisters, Alice and Gertrude. His friend said, “I want you to meet some pretty girls out here in Lilydale.” In a double wedding with Ramona’s sister Gertrude and Chuck’s high school buddy Clarence Woodruff, Chuck and Ramona married on April 6, 1947. The two couples were married at Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ (known simply as 40th back then) by Ramona and Gertrude’s grandfather, Bishop William Mathew Roberts.

Charles and Ramona experienced challenges in their new relationship and came to be called the “Battling Branches” by family members. During a brief separation, Chuck decided to reenlist in the army to fight in the Korean conflict. Fortunately, the war effort died down, and soldiers could be discharged without serving their required time. Chuck came home to rebuild his marriage and life.

Chuck found work with the US Postal Service and was reintroduced to Christianity by his friend and mentor, Andrew (Andy) Davis. On March 16, 1952, Andy accompanied him to Morgan Park Assembly Church on Chicago’s far south side, where Charles was baptized again. That same week, Chuck planned to attend an AA meeting but said after that fateful day with Andy, he never struggled with drinking again. He always credited that good fortune to the grace of God and would often tearfully recount this poignant story. After some initial reluctance, which she often laughs about in retrospect, Ramona joined him on his faith walk and together they became part of the Morgan Park family. They actively participated in the church activities, choir, and eventually in prison ministry. Chuck often spoke of the important shift he experienced at this point in his life and his deep devotion to God. He became a volunteer with the church’s prison ministry and graduated from Moody Bible Institute.

Chuck and Ramona were blessed with seven children and several foster children. From 1958 – 1998, he and Ramona lovingly raised their children and several grandchildren. Their Chicago home was filled with music, dinner parties, sleepovers, bible studies, weddings, billiards, ping-pong games, and of course, lots of pinochle and poker with relatives and friends. The couple built a home filled with love where everyone was welcome. Aware of the importance of family history, Chuck and Ramona captured many moments on film – a treasure that continues to provide immense joy to the family.

At the age of 55, Chuck retired from the post office to pursue his goals of higher education and Christian prison ministry.

He completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Correctional Counseling at Chicago State University. Through his work with Lutheran Social Services, Chuck volunteered at Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill, Illinois. Charles became very connected to the staff and inmates, whom he lovingly referred to as his “friends.” He inquired about the possibility of working with the clergy staff, and as fate would have it, there was an opening. He was hired by Lutheran Social Services as the full-time Protestant Chaplain at Stateville. During his tenure, Chuck counseled and ministered to thousands of men.

One of his significant accomplishments involved his role in quelling a prison riot where inmates overpowered the four guards and four inmates held as hostages. The inmates would only negotiate with Chuck, who after many perilous hours, successfully ended the stand-off without any casualties.

Chuck believed in the sanctity of life and was opposed to the death penalty. He collaborated with David Protess of Northwestern University on the Medill Innocence Project to end the unjust and barbaric practice of prisoner execution. This project led to the exoneration of at least 12 wrongly convicted defendants, including five who were on death row in Illinois. In 2003, then-governor George Ryan declared a moratorium on executions in the state of Illinois.

Retiring again in 1987, but never resting, Chuck received an invitation to help a new church just getting off the ground in Bolingbrook, IL. After a few months of “helping out,” he was convinced

by Tim Bowie, one of the church founders, to submit his name for consideration to lead the church. After consulting with Ramona and reflecting through prayer, Chuck accepted the offer and became the Senior Pastor of New Hope Baptist Church. He and Ramona moved to Bolingbrook in 1994, finding a home close to the church. At the time, New Hope Baptist Church had a small but very dedicated group of parishioners. Under Chuck’s leadership, it became the fastest growing church in the entire Midwest Baptist Conference. The church not only served its congregants, but it also opened the doors to anyone in need of food, clothing, social support, or space for weddings or homegoing services. Several years after he retired, Chuck’s nephew whom he viewed as a son, Rev. David Branch, served as pastor of the church until his death in 2013.

In full retirement, Chuck continued to minister to inmates and those who were previously incarcerated, officiate weddings and funerals, and serve as an upstanding community member and positive role model for his entire family. Chuck loved to play pinochle, read, and he faithfully completed the daily Tribune crossword puzzle in pen. He was known to humbly best the TV contestants on Jeopardy and occasionally take in his favorite genre of movies – gangster flicks. For his many contributions, Bolingbrook Mayor Roger Claar awarded Chuck a key to the city in November 2012.

Near and dear to Chuck’s heart, card playing was an especially important tradition in the Branch family, started

by Chuck’s mom and dad. Chuck often remarked that as children, they would play with their parents for hours.

A frequent response to the Branch boys’ pleas to go out and play was “shut up and deal.” Up until earlier in 2020, he and his sister-in-law Kathleen Branch would drive into Chicago to play pinochle with his cousin, Tommie B. O’Bannon.

During this last year, Chuck marked several important milestones. On April 6th, Chuck and Ramona happily celebrated their 73rd wedding anniversary. On December 22nd, Chuck celebrated his 97th birthday. This past Thanksgiving Day, Chuck spoke on a family Zoom call about all for which he was grateful. “I know I’m not at the peak of health, but we are not made to stay here forever. So, whatever happens in the next few weeks or months, I’m way ahead of the game and I thank the Lord.”

Chuck was preceded in death by his parents: William and Agnes Branch, his siblings: Dorothy Branch, William (Bill/Bull) Branch, Harold Branch, Roy Branch, and his daughter Lynn Ellen Branch Stamps.

Chuck is survived by his beloved wife Ramona, children Patricia Cohen (Marvin), Harold Branch (Patricia), Ronald Branch, Lora Branch (Simone), Carl Branch (Howard), Lana Branch (Bekime), bonus daughter Cheryl Morgan, 20 grandchildren, 22 greatgrandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, cousin Tommie B. O’Bannon, sister-in law Kathleen Branch, numerous nieces and nephews, New Hope Baptist Church family and friends.

Pallbearers

Harold Branch Sheldon Branch Donovon Fahey-Branch Asahd Hamilton Jamal Hamilton Isadore Hart Lamonte Stamps

Honorary Pallbearers Trevion Andrew Harold Lee Branch Shannon Branch Dante Charles Branch Andre David Branch Cecil Gill, Jr. Lynell Stamps Matthew Thompson Branch

Interment

Abraham Lincoln National Ceremony 20953 W. Hoff Road Elwood, IL 60421

Thanks to All

Words cannot express our deep gratitude and appreciation for all expressions of kindness and sympathy shown to our family during these recent days. Your prayers, gifts, flowers, and visits have helped us through this time and will brighten our lives in the days to come.

We thank you all.