Day: October 22, 2024

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the tragic passing of one of our YMCA family members, Rev. Charles Houston, Jr., in the ferry dock collapse on Sapelo Island on October 19, 2024. Rev. Houston, 77, was not only a beloved member of the YMCA, but a hero in our broader community who dedicated his life to service and compassion.

For decades, Charles exemplified what it means to live in service to others. As a chaplain for the Georgia Department of Public Safety and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, he offered spiritual support and unwavering guidance to law enforcement officers across the state. He was there for families during their most difficult moments, lending comfort and solace after the loss of loved ones, during natural disasters, and in the face of unimaginable tragedy.

Here in coastal Georgia, Charles was a constant source of strength and love. He showed up after hurricanes to support families in need, led prayer services during times of mourning, and never hesitated to offer a listening ear or helping hand. His work extended far beyond his role as a chaplain. He founded Caring Connection Chaplaincy, a nonprofit focused on providing spiritual care to law enforcement, and he was deeply involved in his church, Brunswick First United Methodist, where his presence will be profoundly missed.

Those who knew him, like Shawnda Jackson, our Welcome Center Lead at the McIntosh Branch, recall him as one of the kindest, most compassionate people they had the privilege to know. Charles never sought recognition for his countless acts of service—he simply showed up, time and again, ready to support those in need, offering a warm smile, a comforting prayer, or a moment of peace amid chaos.

We are deeply saddened by this loss, but we are forever grateful for the incredible impact Charles made in our community and in the lives of so many. His legacy of love, service, and compassion will live on in the hearts of all who were touched by his kindness.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his loving wife, Elizabeth, their two children, and the entire Houston family. Charles was a true light in this world, and he will be dearly missed by all of us at the YMCA of Coastal Georgia.