james woodrow charles
1916-1993
Life Story
Early Life in Mississippi
James Woodrow Charles was born on August 16, 1916, in the community of Lawrence, Newton County, Mississippi. He was the son of Dock Charles and Mary Ella Charles (née Collier). Although census records occasionally listed him simply as James, he would alternate between the names James and Woodrow throughout his life before ultimately becoming known as James Woodrow Charles.
Born during an era of profound change for African Americans in the South, James entered the world at a time when many Black families were beginning to consider opportunities beyond the limitations of rural Mississippi.
From Mississippi to Alabama
James’s earliest years were marked by migration and the pursuit of economic opportunity. By 1920, when he was just three years old, his family had relocated to Precinct 45 in Jefferson County, Alabama, where they lived along the public road connecting Ensley and Mulga.
His father sought employment opportunities in the growing industrial region surrounding Birmingham, while his mother cared for the household. At the time, the family included James and his older siblings, Seretha and Lee Roy.
Like many African American families of the era, however, the move to Alabama proved to be only a temporary stop on a much larger journey.
The Great Migration to Chicago
During the 1920s, the Charles family joined the Great Migration, becoming part of the massive movement of African Americans who left the South seeking better jobs, educational opportunities, and greater freedom in northern cities.
By 1930, the family had settled in Chicago’s South Side at 4919 Prairie Avenue in the city’s Fourth Ward. There, thirteen-year-old James was attending school and adapting to life in one of America’s largest Black urban communities.
The household had grown considerably, now including younger siblings Jessie Mae, Eugene, John, Donald, and Lester. Several lodgers also resided with the family, reflecting a common strategy among migrant families who pooled resources and housing expenses while establishing themselves in the city.
For James, Chicago represented a world far different from the pine forests and farm communities of Newton County.
Marriage, Hard Times, and the Approach of War
As the Great Depression gripped the nation, James—then often using the name Woodrow—faced the economic hardships common to many young adults of his generation.
The 1940 Census found him living a few blocks away on Prairie Avenue as a lodger with his first wife, Lu Ella. Despite having completed high school, he was listed as a “new worker” who had endured approximately ninety weeks of unemployment.
That same year, on October 16, 1940, he registered for the military draft in Chicago. His draft registration described him as standing 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 128 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes, and a light brown complexion. He identified his mother, Mary Charles, as both his employer and nearest relative.
The world was rapidly moving toward war, and James soon found himself among the millions of Americans called to serve.
Service During World War II
On August 31, 1942, James enlisted in the United States Army during the height of World War II.
For more than three years, he served during one of the most consequential conflicts in world history. His military service coincided with a period when African American soldiers fought not only for victory overseas but also for greater equality at home.
After faithfully serving his country, James received an honorable discharge on January 16, 1946.
Like many veterans of his generation, he returned home determined to build a better future for himself and his family.
Building a Business in Chicago
Following the war, James pursued economic independence through entrepreneurship.
The 1950 Census recorded him as the head of household at 6132 South Ellis Avenue in Chicago. Rather than working for someone else, he operated his own business in the poultry market industry, dedicating approximately fifty hours each week to the enterprise.
Living in the household with him were Arie, Willie, Daisy, and infant Wayne Doru. His success as a business owner reflected the determination and self-reliance that characterized many members of the first generation of Black migrants who established themselves in northern cities.
Through hard work and perseverance, James transformed wartime service and postwar opportunity into lasting economic stability.
Later Years
James remained closely connected to Chicago’s South Side throughout the remainder of his life.
By the early 1990s, public records placed him at 8052 South Eberhart Avenue, with earlier records also associating him with residences on Cortland Street and 92nd Place. These neighborhoods reflected the residential stability achieved by many Black families who had successfully navigated the challenges of migration, discrimination, and economic uncertainty.
Social Security records indicate that by July 1965 he had formally adopted the name James Woodrow Charles as his preferred legal identity, preserving both names that had accompanied him throughout his life.
Death and Legacy
James Woodrow Charles passed away from natural causes on November 13, 1993, at the age of seventy-seven.
His death certificate identified his parents as Dock Charles and Mary Ella Collier Charles, linking his final chapter in Chicago back to his beginnings in rural Newton County, Mississippi.
His life embodied the experiences of a generation that transformed America. Born in the segregated South, raised during the Great Migration, tested by the Great Depression, called to serve during World War II, and ultimately successful as an independent businessman, James Woodrow Charles helped build the foundations upon which future generations would stand.
His story remains one of perseverance, service, entrepreneurship, and the enduring pursuit of opportunity.
Resting Place
Unknown
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1920 U.S. Census, Jefferson County, Alabama.
- 1930 U.S. Census, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.
- 1940 U.S. Census, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.
- U.S. World War II Draft Registration Card, 1940.
- U.S. Army Enlistment Records, August 31, 1942.
- 1950 U.S. Census, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.
- Social Security Applications and Claims Index.
- Illinois Death Certificate, James Woodrow Charles, 1993.
- U.S. Public Records Index.
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