Chesapeake - Charles Arthur Cuffee was born on December 11, 1950 in Hickory, Virginia to Charles Edward Cuffee and Cordelia Wilson Cuffee. He was the third of nine children and the first-born son. He departed this life on Monday night, May 14, 2007 at home with his devoted wife, Gloria, by his side.



He graduated from Crestwood High School in 1969 then attended Tidewater Community College, St. Leos and Norfolk State University. As a young man, he worked at Sheller & Globe, then as an officer for the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and retired from the Civil Service at the Norfolk Naval Base in 1995.



He retired from the U.S. Army Reserve and valiantly served our country in the Vietnam War. For his distinguished service he received the following Military Awards: Combat Infantryman Badge, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, N.C.O. Professional Development Ribbon, Army Service Ribbon and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.



He leaves to mourn his beloved wife, Gloria; his adoring children, Demetrias Brown and husband, Edwin of North Potomac, Maryland, and Charles Cuffee, Jr. (Keisha) of State Farm, VA; grandchildren, Breonna Smith-Cuffee of Midlothian, VA, Alexander Brown of North Potomac, Maryland, Keysharra and Nakia Cuffee of Norfolk, mother, Cordelia Cuffee of Chesapeake; sisters, Cathy Cuffee, Cordelia (Debbie) Cuffee, Sandra Cuffee, Bronzie Creekmore, Renee West (Marcus) all of Chesapeake; brothers, Donzell Cuffee of Norfolk and Jay Cuffee (Karen) of Chesapeake; mother-in-law, Geneva Harris of Chesapeake; sisters-in-law, Katherine Harris of Jessup, Maryland, Golethia Nanches of Washington, D.C., Eva Hampton (Lorenzo) of West Palm Beach, Florida, Beatrice Harris of Chesapeake, Anne Harris of Hampton, and Rosie Harris of South Mills, N.C.; brothers-in-law, Samuel Harris (Carolyn) of Portsmouth, Willis Harris of West Palm Beach Flordia, Ulysses of Fort Washington, Maryland, Lee Otis Harris and Nathaniel Harris (Barbara) of Chesapeake; two honorary children, Antonio Harris (Faith) of Berrien Springs, Michigan, Vonna Falls (Chris) of Midlothian, VA, a host of aunts, uncles, nephews, cousins and friends. He is predeceased by his father, Charles E. Cuffee, infant son, Charles A. Cuffee, and sister, Paulette Cuffee.



A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Friday, May 18, 2007 at Campostella Heights SDA Church, 1006 Oakwood Street, Norfolk. Burial will be in Roosevelt Memorial Park, Chesapeake. Arrangements are under the direction of Pretlow and Sons Funeral Home.