Charles F. Easley, Sr., vice-moderator of the 215th General Assembly (2003) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), died May 23. Services were held June 2 — just before the 223rd General Assembly — at Radcliffe Presbyterian Church here, where he was a member for more than 50 years. He was 82.
Following his discharge from service as an officer in the U.S. Army in 1962, Easley — born in Dalton, Georgia and the youngest of 13 children — embarked on a distinguished career as an educator, coach and educational administrator. A graduate of PC(USA)-related Knoxville College, Atlanta University (now Clark College) and Columbia University (New York) Teacher’s College, Easley began his career as a teacher and multi-championship coach at Stephens High School in Calhoun, Georgia.
He later served as a professor, faculty advisor of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, and Dean of Students at Morris Brown College in Atlanta; Dean of Students at Atlanta Junior College; and retired as Vice-President of Student Affairs of Atlanta Metropolitan College, now Atlanta Metropolitan State College, where he also served two stints as interim president while chairing search committees.
Among his many awards, Easley was named 1963 Georgia Teacher of the Year and 1971 Outstanding Educator Award-winner. To stay active in his love of sports, he also was a three sport official with The Quarterback Club for high school athletes in Atlanta. Easley played semi-pro basketball and was drafted by Major League Baseball.
During his half-century at Radcliffe Presbyterian Church, Easley served as both ruling elder and trustee. He was named vice-moderator of the 2003 General Assembly by Moderator Susan Andrews.
In the community, he served on many boards, and committees most notably as vice-chair of the board of trustees of Trinity School; president of Sheltering Arms, a multi-social service agency in Atlanta; numerous school accreditation agencies; president of the West Fulton County Rotary Club; and as an active member of Leadership Atlanta
Easley was preceded in death by his wife, Helen S. Easley, and all of his brothers and sisters and most in-laws. He is survived by his daughter Tania P. Easley and son Charles F. Easley, Jr.; granddaughters Jenna and Jessica Bailey; great grandson-Christopher Prothro; sister-in-law Madge Easley, and a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews.