Obituary of Charles T. Bright

Charles Thornton Bright, age 97 of Horseheads NY, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 18, 2015, at home and surrounded by his family. Born on August 13, 1917 at Arnot Ogden Hospital, Elmira, NY, Charlie, as he came to be affectionately known, lived a life full of purpose, dedication and devotion, beginning with his immediate family and radiating in all directions. Son of Charles Wesly Bright and Edyth (Carter) Bright, Charlie was raised, after age eight, by his grandparents, Thornton and Lucy Carter, who resided on Partridge Street in Elmira. The seeds of Charlie's legendary work ethic were planted early, assisting his grandfather, a trucker, before and after school (School number Three on Elmira's Southside), as well as on Saturdays. Sundays were always reserved for religious study and devotion, with Monumental Baptist Church being Charlie's lifelong place of worship. Charlie, a master of understated humility, said of the time in which he grew up that "times were tough, but the people were also tough." Apprenticed in the trucking trade by his grandfather, with the use of two horses and four wagons, their clientele included all the schools and churches in Elmira, and extended to residential parts of the city. After graduating high school in 1937, and before being drafted into the Second World War, Charlie began work as a yard laborer at Chemung Foundry. Over the course of several years, he advanced to foreman, tractor-trailer, truck and crane operator at other area companies, including Trayer Products and Elmira All Metal Company (where he returned following the service). From 1944 to 1946, Charlie served in World War II, putting his considerable expertise in Heavy Trucking to work in the service of his country and the allied forces. Once returned home, always in ardent service to others, Charlie ultimately came to run his own trucking business until 1989, when, at age 72, he sustained an injury that ended his trucking career. Post-retirement, the volume and intensity of service and volunteer work that Charlie maintained continued to qualify as Herculean--famously making the lives of other mere mortals appear sedentary by comparison. Charles's extensive and lauded record of volunteer service constitutes a towering achievement, and an independent career in its own right, including the reception of many awards over the years from such notable institutions as The Arctic League, Junior Achievement, The Kiwanis Club, The Rotary Club and Monumental Baptist Church. Particularly meaningful examples of the above include: awarded Community Builder Awards in 1971 and 1992; The Elmira Junior Achievement Center named "The Charles T. Bright Junior Achievement Center" in 1983; awarded The National Census and Center of Black Aged, Inc. Living Legacy Certificate of Recognition in 1988; awarded The National Junior Achievement Gold Award in 1990; and awarded The Jefferson Award in 2006. For the many people who were blessed to know and love Charles T. Bright, the many years of service to the community that he contributed represent a true and faithful portrait of the man, what he considered important and how he wished to be remembered. His definition of family began with his immediate and cherished loved ones (the members of which have inherited Charles's tireless commitment to service), and continually grew to embrace and help more and more people. To Charles, there was perhaps nothing quite so important as making a positive impact on the lives of as many people as he possibly could. And just to know him was to benefit from this splendid and tireless expression of love. Charles is survived by his three loving children: Charles T.H. (Joni) Bright, David (Theron) Bright, and Peggy (Robert) Bright-Berhannan; his grandchildren: Jeremy, Alycia, Regina, Melissa, Chad, Courtney, Wendy, Jovian, and Alexis; and12 great-grandchildren, along with a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins. Charles was pre-deceased by his adopted son Paul, his wife Bernice, his sister Mary and brothers Louis "Buddy" and William "Chuckie". Family and friends will be invited to call at Community Wesleyan Church at 2095 Grand Central Ave. in Horseheads on Friday March 20th from 10:30 to 11:30AM. A memorial service honoring Charles life will immediately follow at 11:30. Committal and interment with military honors will follow at Woodlawn National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Arctic League, P.O. Box 113, Elmira, NY 14902, Junior Achievement, 1600 College Ave., Elmira, NY 14901 and/or the American Cancer Society to honor Charles T. Bright's legacy.