In Memoriam - Charles Frederick Edmond '58

Charles Edmond is a member of the Jesuit Class of 1958.

Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers.

Charles Frederick Edmond '58

Charles Frederick Edmond was born January 23, 1941 in Dallas, Texas. His parents, Jack Edmond & Dawriene Posey and two siblings preceded him in death. Charles was the second oldest of five children. Catholic education was important to his family and it played a historical role in the shaping of his life. The Brown vs. Board of Education decision was the impetus for his historical journey. He graduated from St. Anthony's Elementary School and went on to St. Peters High School. While at St. Peters as a freshman, his mother was approached by the Archdiocese of Dallas with a monumental proposal. This proposal and final decision would be life changing for him. Charles was selected to integrate and attend the prestigious Jesuit High School in Dallas, Texas. This decision, like the Brown vs. Board of Education had profound consequences. The nuns and his mother saw this proposal as a path to success. Charles quietly integrated Jesuit High School as a sophomore. His high school social life was severely restricted because of "Jim Crow Laws". In spite of racial segregation, Charles was extremely successful at Jesuit and became the first African-American to graduate in 1958. From there, he was accepted and attended Grambling State University in Grambling, Louisiana. While at Grambling, he was initiated into the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. He graduated in 1962 with a degree in Mathematics. After graduating from Grambling, Charles relocated to St. Louis, Missouri. His career path started at ACIC (Aeronautical Chart & Mapping) but teaching math was in his heart. Early in his career, he taught at Providence and Soldan High School, both located in St. Louis, Missouri. Charles became the first African-American male teacher at University City High School in University City, Missouri. He left teaching briefly, while employed at Southwestern Bell as a manager, but education called him back. On his journey to touch the lives of his students, Charles advanced his education. In 1973, he obtained a Masters of Education from University of Missouri-St. Louis. Meanwhile, he discovered Berkeley, Missouri was the place to be and once again, wore multiple hats as teacher of math, Dean of Students, Athletic Director and father (his daughter Jonna attended Berkeley & graduated in 1991). The love of teaching continued to keep Charles busy later in his life and he taught math at Harris-Stowe State University located in St. Louis, Missouri, while working as Assistant Principal at McCluer High School where he later retired in 2006. In 1963, while being a member of Mid-Town Young Democrats, he attended the March on Washington. On this famous March, he met Ruth Marie Johnson and pursued her until she relented. Charles & Ruth were married on April 24, 1965. Charles wore multiple hats as husband, father, tour director on family vacations, math tutor and driving instructor, as his son was too big and tall to fit into a standard driver's education car in high school. This quiet warrior was slowed down when Parkinson's disease began attacking his body. He continued to fight the disease until God gave him peace. He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife, Ruth, son Charles (Nedra), Bovina, Mississippi, daughter Jonna (Shahid), St. Louis, Missouri, two sisters, Loester Posey & Theresa Posey, Mansfield, Texas and a host of nephews & nieces.