On May 7, USAID alumna Charline Ann Reeves passed away. She was born on July 31, 1941, to Charles and Elizabeth Ensor Reeves. She grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee, where she may have astonished her folks by working at the Highlander Center, a pioneering social justice institution, and attended the University of Tennessee, where she received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration.
After graduation, Charline joined the Peace Corps, which sent her to Afghanistan. There she was assigned to work with staff at the Afghan national airline, Ariana (known locally as “Scariana”). In 1966, she went to Vietnam as a secretary with the U. S. Agency for International Development (USAID), where she spent four sometimes exciting years. She must have liked international development, because she made USAID her career for the next 30 years. Her work ethic, common sense, and honesty were so greatly valued by her supervisors and colleagues that she was sent to Syracuse University for a multi-month training program to convert from secretarial work to professional. Thereafter she was a prized member of the high-stress USAID budget office, with occasional work trips to Africa.
Charline retired in 2006. In 1984, she met the love of her life, Bradley Turner. They became devoted partners, and, in 2005, they married. Charline and Brad had a dozen splendid years together as husband and wife, until her death.
Charline is survived by her devoted husband Brad; her brothers Charles and James (Mary); her nephews Clay, Aaron, and Chip; and many, many friends. A memorial service will be held at Macedonia Baptist Church, 3412 22nd St. S, Arlington, VA, 22204, on Thursday, May 25, 2017, at noon.
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