Memorial for Charles Benjamin McCleary-Small
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Born in Springfield, MA on Apr. 5, 1952
Departed on Jan. 28, 2010 and resided in Asheville, NC.
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Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010
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Please click on the links above for locations, times, maps, and directions.
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Mr. Charles (Charlie) Benjamin McCleary-Small, 57 of Asheville died unexpectedly on Thursday, January 28, 2010 at Mission Hospital's Memorial Campus after a brief hospitalization.
Charles was born on April 5, 1952 in Springfield, Massachusetts and attended the Bethel AME Church. He attended Springfield High School and graduated from Springfield College with a degree in Recreation. While in college he played football. After graduation he coached basketball for the college and worked as an assistant coach for the Boston Celtic's summer camp.
His first trip to this area was during high school when he represented the Springfield YMCA at a Youth Leadership Conference at Blue Ridge Assembly in Black Mountain. He made Asheville his home in 1987. Charles was a member of the Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church.
Charles' career has been dedicated to working with youth and adults and most recently as a Substance Abuse Worker at the Robert Swain Recovery Center. At the Swain Center, he was well known for playing "Reveille" on his bugle each morning to awaken clients.
He became a member of the YMCA in Springfield at the age of 5 and his membership never lapsed. He began teaching aerobics in the 1980's and taught locally at several gyms and the YMCA over 20 years. He's always been active in the YMCA youth sports programs with a special love for basketball. Many people know Charlie as a basketball official. He officiated at many youth, adult, high school and college games in this area.
Surviving are his wife, Sheryl (Sherrie) Diane McCleary-Small, his daughter, Chloe Sophia McCleary-Small and twin boys, Max Julian and Wesley Charles McCleary-Small all of the home. Charles is also survived by his mother, Ms. Barbara Olive Ware Small Bailey (Nana) of Asheville.
Charles will most be remembered for his steadfast love of his wife, children and mother and his wonderful laugh. Many young adults in this area will remember him as a friend, mentor, a good listener and an "all around good guy". He has best been described as a giver and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
The memorial service for Mr. Charles Benjamin McCleary-Small will be held on Sunday, February 14th at 2:30 p.m. at the Asheville Middle School Auditorium.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate gifts being directed to the YMCA youth scholarship endowment fund. Donations can be mailed to the Asheville YMCA, 30 Woodfin Street, Asheville, NC 28801, Attn: Charles McCleary-Small Endowment Fund, or delivered in person.
An online memorial register is available at www.hartfuneralservice.com
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This Memorial Obituary provided by
Hart Funeral Service
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