Charles Richaed Chamblee, Sr.

Charles Chamblee October 27, 1940 – March 1, 2026 Charles Richard Chamblee, Sr., age 85, passed away peacefully at his home in Birmingham, Alabama on March 1, 2026 aIer an extended illness. He was surrounded by loving family members and other caregivers. He was born in Blountsville, Alabama on October 27, 1940 to Carl C. and Eloise S. Chamblee who predeceased him. The family moved to the industrial heartland of North Birmingham, Alabama in 1941. As he grew up, Charles oIen worked with his father at the family’s local auto repair shop while his mother kept the books for the business. He aRended Phillips High School in Birmingham and the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama where he graduated with a business degree in accounUng. Immediately following his graduaUon from Alabama, he began his career as a CPA in February 1962 with the naUonal public accounUng firm now called Ernst & Young (“EY”) in their Birmingham office. He specialized in serving clients in health care services. He was admiRed to the partnership of the firm in October 1975 and transferred to EY’s Mobile, Alabama office in 1976 where he served as the Office Managing Partner. “Being a managing partner”, he once said, “no doubt ruins a good specialist, because a managing partner must be a good generalist.” In 1992 he returned to the EY Birmingham office where he reUred from his professional career in September 1998. Following his reUrement, Charles remained for over 25 years the consistent organizer of a regular ReUred Partners Luncheon in Birmingham, gathering EY partners from across several states. Charles was a servant leader known for generously invesUng in and developing the professional careers of many who worked in his offices and on his teams, and his proteges successfully spread far and wide. During his professional career he also served numerous professional and charitable organizaUons, including among others the Alabama Hospital AssociaUon; the Healthcare Financial Management AssociaUon (at various Umes - Vice President, Board of Directors, Outstanding Member in 1971 and 1975, and the Founders Award); the Alabama Nursing Home AssociaUon; the NaUonal AssociaUon of Accountants; the Birmingham Area Chamber of Commerce; the American InsUtute of CPAs; the Alabama Society of CPAs (President); the Birmingham BapUst Camp (Board of Trustees); the United Way; the Rotary Club of Mobile (President); and the Mobile Chamber of Commerce (Vice Chairman of Finance). From an early age, Charles was first and foremost a follower of Jesus Christ. His faith impacted his enUre life and gave him the courage to face a number of challenges in life. A BapUst Deacon, Church Youth Leader, Sunday School Teacher, and Men’s Prayer Group Member, he was most recently an acUve member of Dawson Memorial BapUst Church in Birmingham, and before that the Spring Hill BapUst Church in Mobile and the Lakeside BapUst Church in Birmingham. Charles loved family, people, travel, and sports. These interests conUnued throughout his life. He was also an avid reader of a wide variety of books and a consumer of various news sources. He kept up with and enjoyed discussing current events and developments. He frequently traveled with family and friends on vacaUon to see the world. He was a baseball player growing up and enjoyed golf, tennis, and snow skiing as an adult. He especially enjoyed following every sport played by his beloved Alabama Crimson Tide but in parUcular Alabama football. In reUrement he remained acUve and connected with family, friends, and former colleagues. Charles was married to two lovely and Godly women who predeceased him. He was married to Lynda Bernice Seale Chamblee for 31 years unUl her passing in 1991. Following the loss of her husband, Dale Corley, in 1989, Charles was married to Rena Sue Blackwell Corley Chamblee for 30 years unUl her passing in 2023. Three of Charles’ brothers also predeceased him - Carl E. Chamblee, Sr.; Jack F. Chamblee, Sr.; and Larry K. Chamblee. Charles is survived by his children and stepchildren, Teresa Chamblee Shufflebarger (Bob) of Birmingham, Alabama; Charles Richard Chamblee, Jr. of LiRle Rock, Arkansas; Phillip Dale Corley, Jr. (Isabel) and Susie Corley Walker (Ben), both of Birmingham, Alabama; and nine grandchildren who were the lights of his life - Lynda Chamblee Shufflebarger; John Blackwell Corley; Margaret Crosby Shufflebarger; William Charles Chamblee; Beck Thomas Corley; Jonathan Thomas Chamblee; Samuel Carson Corley; Anne McKinley Walker; and Grace Elizabeth Walker. He is also survived by his brother, Gary D. Chamblee (Joan) of Atlanta, Georgia and Pensacola, Florida; his sister-in-law Katrina Strike Chamblee of Orange Beach, Alabama; his aunt JeneRe W. Statham of Blountsville, Alabama; and numerous nephews, nieces, and cousins. Charles’ presence, integrity, wisdom, leadership, humor, and love will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and colleagues. Services to honor Charles’ life will be held in the Chapel at Dawson Memorial BapUst Church at 11 a.m. CST on Friday, March 6, 2026. In lieu of flowers, his family asks that contribuUons be made to two organizaUons Charles loved and was deeply involved with: Dawson Memorial Baptist Church, 1114 Oxmoor Road, Birmingham, Alabama 35209 (www.dawsonchurch.org) and Community Grief Support,  400 Vestavia Parkway, Suite 131, Birmingham, Alabama (www.communitygriegsupport.org).