He was born on July 6, 1949, in Nacogdoches, TX, son of the late Charles Maurice Christian and Avery Dell (Williams) Barnhill. He is survived by his wife, Nona Christian of Melrose; his mother, Dell Barnhill of Moscow, TX; daughters, Charla Christian Felder and husband Chris of Moscow, TX and Tammy Christian Johnson and husband Roy of Palestine, TX; sons, Richard Little and wife Roxie of Hudson, TX, Scott Little and wife Melissa of Nacogdoches, Gary Little and wife Lauree of Nacogdoches, and Steve Little of Orange, TX; step-son, Michael Prince and wife Rachel of Kemp, TX; step-daughter, Kathi Prince of Tyler, TX; sister, Holly Christian Cipriani and husband Tim of New Bedford, MA; step-brother, Tommy Sluterbeck and wife Janice of Nacogdoches; step-sisters, Cassie Hall and husband Bill of Newbury, NH and Mary Kay Wilson and husband Mickey of Nacogdoches; brother-in-law, Thomas Wells and wife Helen of Nacogdoches; grandchildren, Cohl Felder, Carter Felder, Sarah Barbey Nickle, Rachel Barbey, Daniel Gaskin, Jacki Beason Johnson, Joe Beason, Kaylie Goodwin Vaught, Ashley Little, Mark Little, Brenna Little, Jacey Gaddy, and Abigail, Annabelle and Allie Prince; as well as, several great-grandchildren. He also had the greatest friend a man could ask for in Gregg Holmes of Nacogdoches.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 37 years, Georgia Wells Christian; sons, Mark Christian and James “Jimbo” Little; father and step-mother, Charles and Mary Christian; sister, Syble Christian Miller; and step-sister, Jan Blankenship.
Charles graduated in 1967 from John Tyler High School in Tyler, TX. After graduation, he joined the United States Marine Corp. He was stationed in the criminal investigation division at the naval air station in Beaufort, South Carolina, during the Vietnam War. After his military service, he went to the East Texas Police Academy and graduated valedictorian of the 1971 class. He went on to work for Nacogdoches Police Dept. He was a 32nd degree Mason and Shriner.
In 1973, he married Georgia and they brought his two children and her five children together under one roof. Five years later, they (accidentally) added one more. They agreed eight was definitely enough. Throughout their years together, they lived in Beaumont, Splendora, Port Arthur, Nacogdoches, and Palestine. They owned several businesses through the years including, The Frontier Lounge in Port Arthur, TX, and The Country Kitchen and Central Heights Flower Shop, both in Nacogdoches. In 1985, Charles became key in the development of the Deep East Texas Regional Narcotics Trafficking Task Force and became its Commander. He and his team made a huge impact on the war against drugs in East Texas, making some of the largest drug busts in the U.S. in the following decade. Under his leadership, the Task Force was consistently within the top 4 task forces in the state of Texas in the amount of drug seizures and drug arrests. In 1995, he began working for the Department of the Inspector General for the Texas Department of Corrections in Tennessee Colony, TX. He remained there until his retirement in 2011. Sadly, that same year he became a widower. The Lord wasn’t done blessing him however, because God sent him another loving woman willing to put up with him. In 2018, he met and married Nona. They made their home together in Melrose, right around the corner from where he grew up. Shortly after they were married, his health declined. Even though their time together was cut far too short, they cherished every moment. This made his last years happy ones despite his illness.
Charles’ favorite thing in the world was going on vacations with his family and friends. Anywhere would do. He was a walking, talking road atlas. He knew every highway and horse trail in 30 states. Whether it was pulling a camper, riding a motorcycle, drifting on a river raft, or driving a Jeep, he was always up for an adventure. He was best at finding the most remote campgrounds, the deepest mud holes to get stuck in, and the scariest mountain roads to white knuckle.
Until his last day, Charles kept his uncanny sense of humor and razor-sharp wit. He will be remembered as a most loving husband, a great father, a proud PawPaw, and faithful friend...and one bad a$$ cop.
Friends and family are invited to a visitation from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. Friday, March 26, 2021, at Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 27, 2021, at Cason Monk-Metcalf Sunset Chapel officiated by Bro. Carter Felder. The service will be livestreamed on Cason Monk-Metcalf's Facebook page for those who are unable to attend. Interment will follow at Lower Melrose Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Chris Felder, Cohl Felder, Mark Little, Roy Johnson, Michael Prince, and Johnwayne Valdez. Honorary Pallbearers include: Tommy Sluterbeck, Thomas Wells, Greg Holmes, John Schoenrock, Tony Galloway, Ray Arriola, Tom O’Reilly and Mike Rogillio. Following the graveside service family and friends are invited to a pot luck gathering at Melrose Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Charles’ favorite charities: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org or Shriner’s Hospital for Children at shrinershospitalsforchildren.org.
Arrangements are under the direction of Cason Monk-Metcalf Funeral Directors, Nacogdoches.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18