Obituaries

Chesapeake-On Tuesday, June 13, 2023, Charlotte Durham, 66, lovingly known as “Dump”, “Sweet Sugar Dumplin”, Mama, Grandma, Sweetheart, auntie, cousin and Best Friend Forever (BFF) departed this life and went home to eternal life with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Charlotte was born on September 20, 1956 to the late Raymond Durham and Janice Durham in Norfolk,
VA. She was educated in the Chesapeake School Systems and graduated from Indian River High
School. She continued her education at Virginia State University from which she received a B.S. Degree
in Political Science. Charlotte was very smart and her dream was to become a lawyer.

Shortly after graduating from college, Charlotte moved to California. There she met many friends and
worked to support her family. She was a wonderful mother to her three girls and was always supportive of
them. She felt the same about her nieces and nephews. She wanted the best for all of them and did
whatever she could to lead and guide them. She adored her grandbabies and was so proud of them!
Although Charlotte’s path did not lead her to law school, she was not giving up on education. In 1993,
Charlotte relocated back home to Chesapeake, VA. Later, she enrolled at Norfolk State University where
she received a Masters Degree. She taught in the Norfolk Public School system for a year and later started a career in “In-Home Health Care”. Charlotte loved people and always wanted to see people thrive and treated well. She was an advocate for children which led her to successfully launch a Reading Program and a GED Program for her community. Charlotte was also a dedicated board member of the
Chesapeake Home, Incorporated for several years, where she was known to advocate for housing
development initiatives.

Charlotte was a pillar for her childhood community, Crestwood. If you lived in Crestwood or attended any of the Crestwood schools (elementary and junior high), she knew you and your family. Charlotte was a supportive friend, confidante and very well known in the community. She attended every annualCrestwood Labor Day Celebration and was well known for her cooking skills. She loved cooking and
baking. She often told stories of how she learned how to cook from her “Grandma Cherry”. Charlotte was
known by many for her sock-it-to-me cakes….DELICIOUS! She would share her recipes and would also learn about new ingredients, cooking tips and recipes from strangers in the grocery store. She loved trying new recipes and would swear out “It ain’t nothing but the truth!!” She loved cooking for her family!

Charlotte shared a unique bond with eight ladies known as the VSU BFFs (Best Friends Forever).
However, at the university they were known as “The Crunch Bunch”. Their sisterhood is so special that
they swear and believe it was ordained by God. They all kept in touch over the years and have shared in
each other’s joys and sorrows. For years they attended many VSU Homecomings, went on Girl Trips,
celebrated each other’s birthdays and were prayer warriors for one another. Even through COVID, they
checked in on each other weekly via zoom. Without a doubt, they were kindred spirits: “like-minded and
like-souled people with whom an instant connection of love and understanding is mutually experienced."
They have consistently shared this spirit and special bond for 49 years. Charlotte was truly loved by her
BFFs because of her honesty, compassion, resilience, devotion, intelligence and humor.

Charlotte was deeply loved and will be sorely missed. But she will be remembered in the beautiful faces of her children, the stories we tell that will make us laugh and in many memories that we will treasure.
Charlotte was preceded in death by her grandparents, parents and sister (Sharon Gilchrist).

Charlotte leaves to cherish her memories: a loving and devoted partner, Alfred Winslow; her loving children, Jacquelyn Coleman-Jackson (Timothy),
Cherry Durham and Pearl Durham; five grandchildren, Jordan Thomas, Jalonie Coleman, Jacari Durham, Paris Beavers and Reaghan Lightfoot; two sisters, Juanita Durham and Patsy McCrary (Frezell); one uncle, James Mitchell, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, loving friends and eight VSU BFFs. It is a loving farewell for now, until we meet again. Rest in peace our beloved Charlotte A. Durham.

A funeral service will be 11am Thursday; June 22, 2023 at New Mt. Olive Baptist Church; Chesapeake. Viewing will be 4-6pm Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Roosevelt Memorial Park.