Muriel Charles, mother and grandmother, dies
Published: January 9, 2013
Font size: [A] [A] [A]
Daily News File Photo Muriel Charles died Dec. 30.
ST. THOMAS - Muriel Charles, a long-time Daily News employee and friend to all, died suddenly Dec. 30.
She was 74.
Known for making people laugh and her generous spirit, Charles was beloved by her family, her Daily News co-workers and her church.
"Mrs. Charles was an example to us all through her hard work, friendly manner and constant dedication. In nearly 29 years as our Circulation Cashier, she worked with dozens of other staff members and hundreds of vendors, collectors and delivery personnel. All of them regarded her with deep respect, and they trusted and relied on her happily," Daily News Publisher Jason Robbins said.
Robbins estimated that Charles personally counted as many as 90 million coins over the years.
"We were extraordinarily fortunate to enjoy complete confidence in the speed and accuracy of her work, and we have found coping without her extremely difficult," he said.
Onneka Challenger, circulation manager at The Daily News, said Charles was a diligent worker and very reliable. She almost never called in sick and was very trustworthy - counting millions of dollars for the Daily News over the span of her career.
Charles was a great companion in the workplace, and was extremely generous and thoughtful.
"She would give you her last," Challenger said. "She gave with all her heart."
"I'm really going to miss her," Challenger said. "She wasn't just a co-worker, she was a really close friend."
Cassia Ruan, another Daily News co-worker, said Charles was like a second mother to her.
"She was somebody that would always check up on you," Ruan said.
Charles is survived by her three daughters: Julie, Allison and Cynthia Gomez. She also leaves behind four grandchildren - Jerrica Gomez, Kiarah and Mervin Thomas and Bradley Babanock - and would have become a great-grandmother in April.
Julie Gomez said her mother was born on St. Kitts on Dec. 16, 1938.
She said her mom always was trying to make everyone happy and feel good.
"You would be down, and she would say something just to lift you back up," Julie Gomez said. "She just loved helping people, she could not know you and just help you."
Charles was also known for her baking and cooking. Her specialty was making maubi.
She was a long-time member of the Pentecostal Church of God in Christ and used to clean the church every Saturday in preparation for the Sunday service.
"Her church life played a really big part in who she was," daughter Allison Gomez said.
"She was loving, she loved us all, she always encouraged us to do the best that we could," Allison Gomez said.
Charles is survived by two brothers, Winston Charles and Corville Charles.
She had several nieces and a nephew on St. Croix, including Amos Brandy, Esther Brandy, Shirley Ford and Yvonne Ford.
Services for Muriel Charles will be Monday. The viewing is at 9 a.m. at Pentecostal Church of God in Christ, and the service will follow at 10 a.m.
- Contact reporter Aldeth Lewin at 714-9111 or email alewin@dailynews.vi.
To comment you must first create a profile and sign-in with a verified DISQUS account or social network ID. Sign up here.
Comments in violation of the rules will be denied, and repeat violators will be banned. Please help police the community by flagging offensive comments for our moderators to review. By posting a comment, you agree to our full terms and conditions. Click here to read terms and conditions.
