1934
Alva
2016
Alva Kinchen Charatain
February 23, 1934 — December 6, 2016
Charenton
The Life and Legacy of Mrs. Alva Kinchen Charatain will be celebrated on Saturday, December 10, 2016, 2:00 PM at Trinity United Methodist Church, 101 Main Street, Baldwin, LA. Rev. Ronald Southall will officiate the service.
Visitation will be observed Saturday, December 10, 2016, 9:00 AM until the commencement of the funeral service at Trinity United Methodist Church
She will be interred in Trinity United Methodist Church Cemetery, Baldwin, LA.
"In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy path", Proverbs 3:6. That was her motto, her mission statement, the guiding principal for living her life. She put God first in her life, and He directed her through eighty-two beautiful, momentous, glorious, and purposeful years. Everyday was a blessing to her, and each day that she was with us, she gave something of herself to be a blessing to others.
Alva's journey began in Baldwin, Louisiana on February 23, 1934 from the union of Alvin Kinchen and Leotha Smith Kinchen. Her father, Alvin, died when she was two years old and her mother later married Israel Pickett who raised her and was the only father she knew. She received her early formal education at Sager Brown School where she was class valedictorian for eight and tenth grades. She attended high school at St. Mary Training Academy, later known as Willow Street High School. Upon completion of high school, she attended Southern University in Baton Rouge where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Education degrees and Advanced Studies 30 hours above. When she first entered college, she didn't have the funds to continue to completion. However, she wasn't going to let a little financial difficulty deter her from reaching her goal. She went to the president of the university and convinced him to give her a job so she could earn the necessary funds to continue in school and obtain her degree. That's faith in action. She was a woman of great faith, in God and in herself.
After college, Alva obtained employment with the St. Mary Parish School System as a fifth and sixth grade teacher at Four Corners School and then at Thomas Gibbs Elementary. She served for 31 years as a great teacher, mentor, and role model for many students who, to this day, are appreciative for the, quality education they received, (you knew the multiplication table by the time you left her class) the care and nurturing she displayed, and the sometimes necessary discipline she dispensed on the tips their fingers. She provided more than an education to her students. At times she provided to those who needed it, food and clothing, the necessities of living. These many acts of kindness she did in secret. She had a big generous heart, and whatever she could do to be a blessing to someone, she did freely without expectation of compensation. That was purpose in action.
On June 26, 1958, Alva married the love of her life. Clarence Charatain. They began their lives together in Charenton where they put down roots, started their careers and a family. To their union were born four children who will forever cherish her memory, Covetta Charatain Valier (Ronald), Clarence Charatain, Jr., Stephany Charatain Moore (Henry), and Christanella Charatain Mitchell (Gregory). Also left to cherish her memory are her nineteen grandchildren, Trivette McCurtis (Jason), Clarence, III (Melinda), Jamilla, Jessica, Sheralla, Christopher, Tramika, Courtney, Sabrina, Devon, and Trevon Charatain; Demeriese Pratt (Lawrence), Zuri, Azizi (Shalita), Gyasi, Mukisa, and Jaali Valier; Henry Aaron and Jewellicia Moore; fifteen greatgrandchildren, A'Jaycia and Jason McCurtis, Jr.; Clarence Isaiah, Saniyah, Lailah, and Ariana Charatain; Richard Bobb, Aidan, Martaz, and Hadrian Hatcherson; Jasiri Brown; Jadon Roberts, Karson Siner,Jordan Charlatan, and Jomahhri Jackson; her cousin whom she thought of as a sister, Eliza Collins, a special friend, Idella Stevenson, and host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
She was preceeded in death by her husband, Clarence, her parents, her brother Adolph Pickett, her daughter in-law Debra Charatain, and two great-grand children.
MK DIXON Funeral Home is in charge of final arrangements, 337.940.9253, 211 Main Street, Baldwin, LA 70514. www.mkdixonfh.com.
Visitation will be observed Saturday, December 10, 2016, 9:00 AM until the commencement of the funeral service at Trinity United Methodist Church
She will be interred in Trinity United Methodist Church Cemetery, Baldwin, LA.
"In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy path", Proverbs 3:6. That was her motto, her mission statement, the guiding principal for living her life. She put God first in her life, and He directed her through eighty-two beautiful, momentous, glorious, and purposeful years. Everyday was a blessing to her, and each day that she was with us, she gave something of herself to be a blessing to others.
Alva's journey began in Baldwin, Louisiana on February 23, 1934 from the union of Alvin Kinchen and Leotha Smith Kinchen. Her father, Alvin, died when she was two years old and her mother later married Israel Pickett who raised her and was the only father she knew. She received her early formal education at Sager Brown School where she was class valedictorian for eight and tenth grades. She attended high school at St. Mary Training Academy, later known as Willow Street High School. Upon completion of high school, she attended Southern University in Baton Rouge where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Education degrees and Advanced Studies 30 hours above. When she first entered college, she didn't have the funds to continue to completion. However, she wasn't going to let a little financial difficulty deter her from reaching her goal. She went to the president of the university and convinced him to give her a job so she could earn the necessary funds to continue in school and obtain her degree. That's faith in action. She was a woman of great faith, in God and in herself.
After college, Alva obtained employment with the St. Mary Parish School System as a fifth and sixth grade teacher at Four Corners School and then at Thomas Gibbs Elementary. She served for 31 years as a great teacher, mentor, and role model for many students who, to this day, are appreciative for the, quality education they received, (you knew the multiplication table by the time you left her class) the care and nurturing she displayed, and the sometimes necessary discipline she dispensed on the tips their fingers. She provided more than an education to her students. At times she provided to those who needed it, food and clothing, the necessities of living. These many acts of kindness she did in secret. She had a big generous heart, and whatever she could do to be a blessing to someone, she did freely without expectation of compensation. That was purpose in action.
On June 26, 1958, Alva married the love of her life. Clarence Charatain. They began their lives together in Charenton where they put down roots, started their careers and a family. To their union were born four children who will forever cherish her memory, Covetta Charatain Valier (Ronald), Clarence Charatain, Jr., Stephany Charatain Moore (Henry), and Christanella Charatain Mitchell (Gregory). Also left to cherish her memory are her nineteen grandchildren, Trivette McCurtis (Jason), Clarence, III (Melinda), Jamilla, Jessica, Sheralla, Christopher, Tramika, Courtney, Sabrina, Devon, and Trevon Charatain; Demeriese Pratt (Lawrence), Zuri, Azizi (Shalita), Gyasi, Mukisa, and Jaali Valier; Henry Aaron and Jewellicia Moore; fifteen greatgrandchildren, A'Jaycia and Jason McCurtis, Jr.; Clarence Isaiah, Saniyah, Lailah, and Ariana Charatain; Richard Bobb, Aidan, Martaz, and Hadrian Hatcherson; Jasiri Brown; Jadon Roberts, Karson Siner,Jordan Charlatan, and Jomahhri Jackson; her cousin whom she thought of as a sister, Eliza Collins, a special friend, Idella Stevenson, and host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
She was preceeded in death by her husband, Clarence, her parents, her brother Adolph Pickett, her daughter in-law Debra Charatain, and two great-grand children.
MK DIXON Funeral Home is in charge of final arrangements, 337.940.9253, 211 Main Street, Baldwin, LA 70514. www.mkdixonfh.com.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Alva Kinchen Charatain, please visit our flower store.
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