IN MEMORIÂ
Charlene Lewis-Meeks
April 25, 1954 – September 18, 2015
Worthy of Double Honor as a Leader & Champion | Charlene Lewis-Meeks
Ms. Charlene Lewis-Meeks is a member of the Board of Directors for Fathers & Families Coalition of America and advocate of this agency's purpose for more than 15 years as she was called to go home to her Father God and The Lord on Friday the 18th day of September in the year of our Lord, two-thousand and fifteen. Untimely for her children, mother, grandchildren, siblings, family members, adopted family members, friends and colleagues was her calling. But to the one whom loves her so much, her Father Abba it was time she answered The Call to Come Home. She emulated His love, patience, kindness and understanding to others as Charlene met others where they were at with just her warm, comforting and beautiful smile. 1 Timothy 5:17 states, to Honor Our Elders: "The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching." This is a time to share how truly worthy Charlene is of more than just double honor as she labored hard for others as a mark of a true elder and leader.
March 1991, Charlene took the call and went from her Los Angeles based area where all her friends and families resided to go serve and lead as the Deputy Director, Social Services Department, for the State of California. By 1994, Deputy Director Meeks-Lewis had put in motion her vision of ensuring that the entire State of California addresses fatherlessness. A pioneer nationally, Charlene took up the mantle to champion the rights for fathers, encourage fathers to commit to their children and build healthy communities centered on healthier families through father-involvement. The forward vision led to one of our nation’s first formal venues on fathers to be involved in the lives of their children in 1995, “Fathers, Families and Communities.” She understood boys and girls in the State of California and nationally the need of a father’s love with the warmth and love of a mother. Charlene is not only a judicious leader among leaders; she is a mom. She is a model for many others who raise their children to grow into the destiny of greatness. Charlene took up the causes for others while ensuring home was taken care of first and foremost for her two sons. Her greatness as a single mother even magnifies her worthiness of double honor in a time where she could have easily journeyed to a different professional calling but she was one who walked into her destiny to serve communities and edify leaders on how to improve services for individuals without a voice. She served the State of California Department of Social Services in leadership from 1986 to 1998 overseeing numerous programs addressing health and social services but it was child welfare and fatherhood that she knew the interconnection to address fatherlessness would improve outcomes for children. She elevated the field of fatherhood as quiet voice of consciousness when she left California to Washington, DC for a nonprofit agency and took her servant leadership presence throughout the United States to Cape Town, South Africa. Charlene knew and shared numerous times there was more than a position in an organization or title to step toward greater fulfillment and purpose. Regardless of the barriers, she was grateful for the current blessings and always with a spirit of gratitude for what she was doing to arrive at the place God wanted her to be, to the “good works” God called her and with immense authenticity that sets her apart from many leaders. In 2004, the voice of righteousness returned to Los Angeles. Charlene’s understanding of the synergistic interconnections of purpose advancing into fulfillment of destiny renewed her passion for many initiatives and a return to helping those who help children and families in the foster-care system. Shortly after her return, I was blessed to receive a call from Charlene with a passion to support Fathers & Families Coalition of America. A call I am eternally grateful to have received well beyond professionally. Her counsel, wisdom, instinct and trustworthiness proved to be a source of a kairos moment for me that propelled the advancement of Fathers & Families Coalition of America into now an international champion for healthy families. There are many facets to Charlene but her quiet and dignified presence should never be underestimated for her powerful ability as a role model to many. Her ability to be a servant leader, her service to community, and desire to champion families demonstrated to others excellence in all works. Charlene avoided the deceptive lure of popularity understanding not to listen to people who have nothing to loose and to listen to that voice of destiny given to all. She honed in that destiny takes more than just her alone. She was blessed with the gift of bringing others together to create a vision beyond what one can see in front of them and in the current time of now. Many people will never know it was Charlene Lewis-Meeks in 1993, that started to formulate the vision of fatherhood in America and the need for government to invest into boys and girls by lifting up men to become the best fathers they were destined. She expected something good to happen every day. Charlene believed if we let hope soar then parents could let go of life’s anxieties and the weights that drag families down. She stepped into her purpose and brought hope to many that they too could find joy in their destiny. Charlene served several positions of influence for the State of California Department of Social Services: Assistant Director, Southern Region; Executive Advisor, Intergovernmental Affairs; Special Assistant to the Director for Community Affairs and Special Projects and an appointment as Deputy Director. She transitioned to Washington, DC as Vice President for National Center for Strategic Nonprofit Planning and Community Leadership and returning to her California to champion the needs of person with disabilities. Charlene for the last decade has served to enrich the lives of parents for California Institute of Health & Social Services that after a lifetime of service, Charles R. Drew University came to her requesting she join their faculty to teach others on community services.
Worthy of more than double honor….
Honored Judge Mablean Ephriam (Judge Mablean centered) and many others as well as with her protégé Misses Jazmin C. Rodriguez and Charlene Lewis-Meeks - The Lifetime Achievement Award
athers & Families Coalition of America was blessed to have her leadership.In 2012, we recognized the Honorable Charlene Lewis-Meeks with many other volunteers and leaders. However, only a few were in position based on their service in the community to receive the highest level of recognition given in a special ceremony at The University of Southern California on Friday, November 2nd. Charlene became a recipient of The President’s Lifetime Achievement Call to Service Award, The Office of President of the United States, President Barack Obama, administered by The President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation within the Corporation for National and Community Service – Points of Light. Her recognition is a life’s journey of selflessness, strength, perseverance, endurance, a source of hope and love. I believe in my soul and spirit, Charlene would desire others to get up and walk into their destiny. Her love for her sons, daughter-in-laws, grandchildren, mother, siblings, families and friends will never end as agape love resided within her for others and that is perfected through her love of Jesus, Father God and Holy Spirit to dwell with others for all time.
Benedicite Charlene perpetuas aeternitates - May God Bless You Charlene for all eternity,
Charlene with Congressman Danny K. Davis (IL) over her left shoulder as she advocated for the needs of fathers...
Your brother in Christ,
James C Rodríguez
Chief Executive Officer & President
For further information on Charlene's Going Home is tentative for Friday, September 25th at 10:45am Morningside United Church of Christ Church Address: 8722 Crenshaw Blvd, Inglewood, CA 90305 Phone:(323) 750-2790 There will be no open viewing at the church. Visitation on Thursday Only at Angelus Funeral Home Address: 3875 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90008
(l) Susan Taylor, Editor (ret) Essence Magazine, (c)Charlene Lewis-Meeks and(r) Judge Veronica Torrez
(l) Charlene Lewis-Meeks; Barbara Harvey (Atlanta); (c) James Rodriguez CEO & President (r) Lisa Page (Atlanta) after completion of Fatherhood & Healthy Marriage Conference at Morehouse College
Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA) centered with Charlene Lewis-Meeks and James
Rodriguez, CEO & President flanked by Dr. William Marshall to the left of Charlene...
Helen Mitchell, Assistant to Congressman Danny K. Davis (IL), son and Charlene Lewis-Meeks caught off guard and still expressive with her contagious smile!
During a brief with the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships we edified for changes to Joshua DuBois who is flanked by two wonderful ladies that both went to Our Lord two weeks apart... Dr. Theresa Mejia-Johnson and Charlene Lewis-Meeks