Rev.Charles E. Oakes, 97, Clarksville, went to meet Jesus, Sunday, December 19, 2010, from Gateway Medical Center with his family by his side. A celebration of life service will be held at 1:00 P.M. Wednesday at Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Chapel with Rev. Larry Spraker officiating. Burial will be in Resthaven Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and from 11 a.m. until the hour of the service Wednesday at the funeral home. Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Rev. Oakes was born February 3, 1913 in Jefferson County, KY, son of the late Elijah Thomas Oakes and Rosa Ella Warren Oakes. He was an Ordained Elder in the Church of the Nazarene and pastored churches in Tennessee and Kentucky for over sixty years. He was former pastor of the Memorial Drive Church of the Nazarene and was currently a member of Park Lane Church of the Nazarene. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 75 years, Edna Earl Oakes; a son, James E. Oakes, Sr., and son-in-law, Martin Boyd.
Survivors include three daughters, Yvonne Rhodes (Cecil); Doris Boyd, and Lillian Graham (Charlie), all of Clarksville; a son, Virgil Oakes (Sandra), Radcliff, KY; eleven grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be Gene Rhodes, Dawson Halliday, Eddie Halliday, Lee Wofford, Jimmy Oakes, Joe Oakes, Jereme Oakes, and Chuck Oakes. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Park Lane Church of the Nazarene, 225 Cunningham Lane, Clarksville, TN 37042. Arrangements entrusted to Neal-Tarpley-Parchman Funeral Home, 1510 Madison Street, Clarksville, TN 37040. Online condolences may be made at www.neal-tarpley.com