Charles Raymond Bohannon


Major: Vocal Music
A Cappella Choir 3; Choral Club 1,2,3; Music Department Production 1,2,3; Speech Play 1,2,3; Thespians 1,2,3




Spouse:  Charlene Frances Lambert (Deceased -Graduated from Immaculate Conception High School  - Class of 1972)

Children: None - But lots of ieices and nephews. I even have great and great, great ones as well.  Niece Suzanne was Miss Memphis in 1992. I'm very proud of her and all of them.  I think the total is 14 at last count.  I may have had a senior moment and missed one.

Employment:  Employment has varied through the years. Retail at Goldsmith's and Sears:  Singing server at Bravo! Restaraunt in the old Adams-Mark Hotel; I have been a substitute teacher.  My last employment was at Friends For Life.  I say last because I was laid off in June 2009.  Now I have decided to become self - employed.  That way I won't get fired or laid off - (I know the boss). LOL   I'll let ya know how it goes.
Memories of Messick:  My goodness where do I start?  I attended Messick and nowhere else.  I started 1st grade in 1956 with Miss Louis Bee as my  teacher (she had been my dad's third grade teacher).   I was always on a stage of some kind. LOL All of my memories are happy ones.  I only got paddled once in the entire time I was there thanks to  Hawthorne Wallis and me not staying in after school when he told me too.  I will say  Radford Rosebrough could swing a wicked paddle.  Even though not at the time, that fits into the good memories as well. Then there was the choral club and choir with Mrs. Travers - "Mac"  and all the plays with Freda Kenner.  Mrs Travers moved to Montana and last I heard was a very happy grandmother.  Freda Kenner died three or so years ago at age 103.  Mr Swayzee our band director lives in Florida now with his son and is in his 80's. He comes home a couple of times a year and visits at Colonial Baptist Church were he attended and where I attend and am in the choir (Look for me in the front row every sunday).  Memories of those hallowed halls make me sad when I have the occasion to drive by there now.  I could go on and on about the memories but I won't.  Just one last one of graduation night at the now gone Ellis Auditorum and 352 voices singing the Alma Mater closing the book on all the cherished memories of our school days and our childhood.
Life since 1969: A life filled with more memories.  I debuted at Memphis Little Theatre in the fall of 1969 in a musical.  I also  enrolled at Memphis State University singing my way through the Opera Department.  (Don't get excited it was all chorus work. LOL)  I also got a job at Sears Laurelwood. It was Christmas work as someone we all know and love with the initals SC.  In April of 1971, I enlisted in the Air Force for a 4 year stay where I became known as "Chuck".  Charles was too formal and I hate the other nickname.  I had one overseas trip when I was stationed at Osan Air Base, Korea.  I did check out Hong Kong while that close.  I finished up at Lackland in San Antonio, Tx and lived there for two years before returning home to Memphis. I returned to MSU and also got in the chorus of Opera Memphis where I meet Charlene.  We married 6 years later and were together 14years before she died of a stroke.  I never got my degree.
Life has been interesting these 40 years.  I continue to sing, act and have directed a show or two. The Christmas personna continues.  Check out Santa real close when you attend the City of Memphis parade or the tree lighting at the Peabody Hotel or other places you see him. He just might know an awful lot about you and how naughty or nice you've been. LOL  I worked at Friends For Llfe for 7.5 years but was laid off in june.  Now as I said earlier, I've decided to work for myself.