Charles Womack dies at 87

My grandfather and the man for whom I am named, passed away yesterday at the age of 87. He was an amazing man that did more good and touched more lives than anyone I have ever known. I am honored that he passed his passion for hard work, travel, family and living life to the fullest on to me, Charles A. Womack III. But of all the gifts he gave me, the one that is the most valuable and can never be taken away, is his name. I am proud to be Charles Womack and extremely proud to be the son of Charles Womack, Jr. and to have been the grandson of Charles A. Womack Sr.

The following was printed in our hometown newspaper of Danville, Va.

Charles Womack dies at 87
June 2, 2005
DANVILLE, Va. - E. Linwood Wright on Wednesday recalled a statement Charles A. Womack made recently during a Sunday school class at Mount Vernon United Methodist Church.

“There are times when one has to stand up and be counted, no matter how unpopular it may be.”

That was how Womack’s family and friends say he lived his life.

Womack died Wednesday at Danville Regional Medical Center following a period of illness. He was 87.

Womack, who served on Danville City Council from 1958-1966, was known for fighting for those who were unable to fight for themselves. He was a champion of the local civil rights movement, communicating the concerns of the city’s minority residents to city council. His efforts led one former councilman, the late John Carter, to attempt to have Womack censured.

“He was always working toward promoting racial harmony,” said Womack’s son, Charles “Zan” Womack Jr. “And of course, at that time, he took a lot of criticism for it.”

Bishop Lawrence Campbell of Bibleway Cathedral became acquainted with Womack in 1963 during the height of the civil rights movement in the city.

“He was very amenable to the cause, and to me, served as a bridge-builder in the community between the races,” Campbell said. “He was very sincere and (a) very philanthropic and highly religious man … a person who quietly helped so many people without blowing a trumpet.”

But Womack’s efforts went far beyond his work at city hall. Countless children in the city’s low-income neighborhoods are able to take swimming lessons and participate in summer camps each year because of Womack’s financial support, said Danville Parks, Recreation and Tourism Director John Gilstrap.

“He was a great gentleman,” Gilstrap said. “He was one of Danville’s finest, and he will be dearly missed.”

The foundation bearing Womack’s name made many of those opportunities possible for the area’s youth. The Womack Foundation was established in 1959 with the goal of providing educational and recreational opportunities for local children. Several parks and community centers were also built with foundation funds.

Wright, a former Danville mayor, said residents would never know the extent of Womack’s generosity. He said Womack donated “a ton of money,” most it anonymously.

“He liked to support people,” Wright said. “He was not a brick-and-mortar person particularly.”

An exception to this rule was Womack’s support of the Estelle H. Womack Museum of Natural History. The museum is named in honor of Womack’s wife, who died in 1994. Womack donated a total of $350,000 to the museum.

As a permanent member of the Womack Foundation board, Campbell said he witnessed Womack give numerous low-income children the opportunity for a college education. Campbell said Womack “walked among many great men, but never lost the common touch.”

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time, but the family asks that memorials be made to the Womack Foundation, c/o American National Bank, P.O. Box 191, Danville, Va., 24543.

By JONNELLE DAVIS
Register & Bee staff writer