Charles Reid, the only son of Charles Reid Sr. and Mary Isabelle Frederick from Athens, Georgia was born on April 17, 1912 who was educated in Georgia and South Carolina while attending Hanes Junior College and Chaflin College, respectively. Mr. Reid has two half-sisters; Mary Fordham (deceased) and Dorothy Fordham who is 92 and is living in the Asbury Nursing Home in Gaithersburg, Md.
The Centurion plus has experienced many changes in history, and possibly one of the most significant was the Civil Rights Movement. Mr. Reid’s great grandfather and grandfather were slaves. He says he especially remembers his grandfather who told stories of running away to Boston and getting a job aboard a boat that traveled to South America with a surgeon to do medical research. His grandfather always desired to attend medical school after that experience.
In his century old life, Mr. Reid has become a man of many accomplishments and talents, and has even taken after his grandfather, traveling the world aboard a steam ship as a Tramp Dealer for 15 years. As opposed to freight liners, tramp ships trade on the spot market with no fixed scheduled or itinerary.
In addition to his time on the water, Mr. Reid worked as a state and federal meat inspector for 13 years in Baltimore, where he also met and married his lovely wife Lillian Lenore Butler who is now deceased. A very spiritual man with a strong sense of humor, Mr. Reid is a member of the West Liberty AME Church in Marriottsville MD where he loves to sing gospel and praise music. He also adores old-time jazz and reading. His hobbies don’t end there; Mr. Reid considers himself an expert of food and cooking. This kind-hearted also has a strong love of animals and worked as a veterinarian! The Brightview Assisted Living recreation room was decorated with colorful helium balloons, and Mr. Reid who is legally blind, yelled out a joyful sound when musician Thomas “Whit” Williams on the saxophone and Charles Etzel on the keyboard played “Happy Birthday”. The twosome continued to serenade the packed room of residents and friends who gathered to enjoy the festivities.
