HFA Member Charles William “Chuck” Higdon died in Alexandria, Virginia, on Saturday, February 7, 2015. He and his family had hosted the very enjoyable banquet held at his church in Alexandria as part of the annual Higdon Family Association meeting in October 2014. In addition, he had also recently completed a new edition of Lucille Coone’s book Colonial Higdons and Some of Their Descendants (1976). A valuable member of the Association, he will certainly be missed by all who knew him.
Born on March 18, 1943, Chuck Higdon was the son of William Emmanuel and Rosevelt Carter Higdon. He was married on February 9, 1977, to Faye S. Okouchi, who survives. Faye is 3rd Vice President of the HFA. He is also survived by their children: Carla Hoonoa Higdon Okouchi and husband Cory; Damien William Palani Pukio Higdon and wife Annie; Danica Jennie Iolani Sachi Higdon King and husband Eric; and Nalani Naomi Misako Higdon Staats and husband Sean. Also surviving are ten grandchildren: Taylor, Caden, Madeline, Riley, Kiran, Kaleo, Nashira, Kiana, Naomi, and Zorion.
Retired from the U. S. Navy, Chuck Higdon was buried in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors. A funeral service was held on Saturday, February 14, 2015, at Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church in Alexandria. Jefferson Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
According to the November 2013 issue of our Higdon Family Newsletter: Chuck descends from Leonard and Eve Huffman Higdon of North Carolina through their son Samuel Higdon, who married Mary Polly Queen, and had twelve children, one of whom was John Baxter Higdon, Chuck’s grandfather, who married Naomi Rose and had nine children.
Note: Chuck’s new edition of Mrs. Coone’s book (which had been out of print for many years) is offered for sale by the Higdon Family Association at $45.00 each, to benefit the HFA Scholarship Fund. DVDs are also for sale at $15.00 from HFA treasurer Janice M. Higdon (PO Box, 315, Moon, VA 23119.)
Family and Friends Celebrate the Life Of Charles W. “Chuck” Higdon on February 14, 2015 by Karen Nave Fickes
Last year, I had the pleasure of hosting the Higdon Family meeting in the DC area. Without the help and support of Charles W. “Chuck” Higdon and his wife, Faye, who live on the Virginia side of DC, I would have never made it through the difficulties of balancing the meeting logistics, costs, and venues.
I first met Chuck and Faye at the HFA meeting in Blue Ridge, GA. Chuck was such an enthusiastic HFA member. He was responsible for reprinting Mrs. Coone’s book, Colonial Higdons and Some of Their Descendants (1976) in advance of the 2014 HFA meeting. And, I know he and Faye were both looking forward to hosting the HFA in a few years.
Regrettably, Chuck passed away on February 7, 2015. This past week, I was honored to join Faye and their children and grandchildren in a moving service in celebration of his life at the Mt. Vernon Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, VA.
Verses 1 and 2 of the opening hymn, “Amazing Grace,” were sung by Chuck’s daughter, Carla, and her husband Cory, with the congregation joining for the remaining 3 verses. Both Faye and Carla joined the Sanctuary Choir in singing “Down by the River,” an Appalachian song selected because it captures the image of Chuck’s baptism in the Conasauga River.
Several of Chuck’s friends shared their memories of him, but none were as moving as those of his daughter, daughter-in-law, and Faye. The family’s remembrances were preceded by a musical ensemble playing several beautiful Hawaiian songs. At the conclusion of the service, the casket was escorted from the church by the stirring music of bagpipes.
A reception followed in the church fellowship hall, including a slide show of family pictures against a backdrop of the musicians continuing to play island music. Both the service and reception were a fitting tribute to a very good man.
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