Charles Albert Shadid

Charles, known by most as Charlie, was born in Snyder, Oklahoma, to Lebanese immigrants Raeefa and Albert Shadid on September 23, 1929. He was the oldest brother of Buddy, Yamama, and Edward, and younger brother to Elva.

Tragedy struck early in Charlie’s life as his father died when he was only 13 years old, leaving his mother to raise her five children. As the eldest son, Charlie was thrust into taking care of his family, working as a butcher alongside his mother in her grocery store. There were many nights when Raeefa, Charlie, and eventually Buddy would close down the store and sit by the warm stove on a winter night, feeling the weight of the world on their shoulders.

Later in life, Charlie was left teary-eyed and speechless when discussing his mother, always deeply grateful for her devotion.

He married Jimme Lou Wehba in 1958 after eight weeks of dating. He took her dancing for their first date, literally sweeping her off her feet. When he dropped her off afterward, “her feet didn’t touch the ground,” her late sisters Marilyn and Shirlie often reflected. Their everlasting love will remain in the memories told proudly by Jimme Lou.

Charlie treasured his five daughters, Tracey, Denise, Jennifer, Ashley, and Courtney, his sons-in-law, as well as his 14 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, who called him Jiddo or Jiddy. He was so excited to host every family holiday—and he expected you to be there. Christmas Eve was his absolute favorite day of the year. He even dressed up as Santa Claus for an abridged version of the savored event in 2020 during the pandemic.

While his life’s passion was his family, work was a close second. He spent almost every day until his death in the Victoria Building, a former movie theater that he bought and remodeled in 1972, located at 18th and Classen in Oklahoma City. It had long served as the home to his exorbitant ideas.

Papers were always scattered on his desk, alongside antique swords, ships, and countless other pieces collected throughout he and his wife’s world travels. It was a sight to behold—including the bombastic red carpet—but it was all in perfect order to him. He was insistent on continuing to work in his office into his final days. He loved being surrounded by his many trinkets and achievements.

His mother instilled a deep sense of resilience in him, as she did in all of her children. He never lost that drive to succeed, building a triumphant career as a tough attorney and businessman. Charlie was recently honored for 70 years of membership in the Oklahoma Bar Association, a rare achievement in the profession and the culmination of his career.

Charlie’s path began at Putnam City High School, before attending Oklahoma City University, where he graduated early with a bachelor’s degree in business. He then attended the University of Oklahoma College of Law. Forever loyal to his mother, Charlie would hitchhike home from law school on the weekends to work in her grocery store.

Charlie honorably served in the United States Army after graduating law school in 1952. He joined the 13th Class of the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Stationed out of Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Charlie’s JAG assignment began with criminal defense. However, he had so much success defending his fellow officers that he was later assigned a role for the prosecution, and he stayed in that role until he completed his duty with the Army in 1955.

Charlie had immense business prowess, which first blossomed with his ownership of numerous movie theaters. He purchased the Plaza Theater soon after marrying Jimme Lou and worked concessions while she worked the ticket stand. Over the next decades, he owned and operated 11 different theaters in Oklahoma alongside his business partner, Farris Shanbour. Some of his daughters’ most cherished memories were nights spent at his drive-in, the Hillcrest, eating pizza on the hood of his car.

Though, like many businessmen, Charlie’s career had slow beginnings. He made just $20 in his first month of practice as a personal injury and family law attorney, initially working in the conference room of Attorney Fred Black. He kept a handwritten ledger of expenses for the first four years of his career, which he kept in his possession until his death as a reminder of where he started.

In the 1960s, Charlie opened up his own firm and rented out space to four other attorneys, one of whom was future Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice, Marian P. Opala. Holding strong to his roots, Charlie often rented his offices to Lebanese attorneys of later generations. He always kept his door open to anyone with an idea and an eye toward success.

He and Jimme Lou traveled the world and visited their ancestral homeland, Lebanon, several times, first in 1996 to celebrate their daughter Courtney’s marriage.

But Charlie’s most treasured family trips were to Las Vegas, where he was known simply as “Mr. S.” This tradition continued throughout his life. It was his happy place. He loved to play a game of craps, sometimes staying at the table all night. And if one of his daughters were at the table when he won big, he’d ask them to stay as a good luck charm.

He always wanted to be in the room as his daughters chatted up a storm with their mother, even if it interrupted his Westerns. It may have seemed like he wasn’t listening, but he’d always chime in with a helpful tidbit to show you he was. Never shy with his advice, Charlie often guided his daughters to make life decisions, both big and small, even if it was just helping choose an outfit.

He was stoic, rarely raising his voice, but when he did, you listened. And yet, as intimidating as he could seem, those who knew him saw him as a deeply affectionate man.

Patience was something he had in spades, as he strived to be the best husband and father he could. He waited calmly at the bottom of the slopes for his daughters during ski-trips when they were little, greeting them at the end with nothing more than a cheery hello, even though he was freezing cold.

Whenever his daughters had a bad dream, they would sneak down to their parents’ bedroom and jump in on his side of the bed, not wanting to bother their mother after a long day of raising them. They knew he would soothe their fears.

Charlie was a lifelong member of Saint Elijah Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church. From 1985 to 1997, he was the chairman of the building committee for the church’s fourth and preeminent location on 150th and N. May, where the church has remained and thrived. He also served as President of the Parish Council from 1983 to 1985, and remained a devout member of the church throughout his life.

Every Sunday while his children were growing up, the entire family would get into the car, turn on The Sound of Music soundtrack, and drive to Braum’s for ice cream. Really, a simple Braum’s commercial was all he needed before he was grabbing the car keys and saying, “Let’s go.” He loved finding an excuse to eat strawberry ice cream.

Charlie loved a weekend drive to see his properties, a tradition cherished since he and Jimme Lou were a young couple, often accompanied by their daughters. He and Jimme Lou also loved shopping for antiques, their house filled to the brim with little knick-knacks and grand pieces from their travels.

Everything in their home had become a piece of their own history, having traveled almost every continent. From the ivory boat they got in Hong Kong to the jade ship in their gathering room—if they loved a piece, Charlie would always find a space for it. That desire to curate their home lasted until his final days, having recently purchased a new light-up China cabinet that, like every new piece he acquired, he would eagerly show off to his visitors.

He especially enjoyed weekend dinners with Jimme Lou, brothers Buddy and Ed, and their wives. His siblings meant everything to him, and his younger brother Buddy quite literally thought he and Charlie were the same person, often calling Charlie when he was sick to ask, “Charlie, what’s wrong with us?”

Charlie also made time for a weekday lunch with his brothers in between work, and in their twilight years, sometimes a trip to the casino. These were outings Charlie cherished, defying old age every step of the way.

He had an iron will to live, and he lived life his way, a mantra that shaped him since the death of his father.

In his final years, he often said “That’s what it’s all about: family,” filled with immense pride in his legacy.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Raeefa and Albert Shadid; his mother and father-in-law, Hilwa and Jim Wehba; his sister and brother-in-law, Elva and George Elkoury; and his brother, Dr. Buddy Shadid. He was also preceded by his sisters and brothers-in-law Marilyn and George Shadid, and Shirlie and Dan Daniel.

He is survived by his wife Jimme Lou, and his daughters, Tracey and Rick Brown, Denise and Dr. Tracey Smith, Jennifer and Dr. Paul Shadid, Ashley and Joe Jeldy, and Courtney and Dr. Naji Karam. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Travis and Kamaria Smith, Rachel and Nathan Nash, Barrett and Stephen Brown-Fried, Drs. Zachary and Radhika Smith, Jessica and Bryan Beavers, Dr. Jacob and Naye Smith, Dr. Paul Jr. and Erika Shadid, Peter and Lauren Shadid, Ethan and Kailyn Walker, Charlie Walker, Emile Karam, Alec Karam, Gabriella Karam, and Petra Karam.

He is also survived by 18 great-grandchildren.

He is further survived by his sister Yamama and Dr. Richard Joseph, brother Dr. Edward and Darlene Shadid, and sister-in-law Shara Shadid, as well as many nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank Jacky Matlock and Andrea Hathaway for their decades of loyal service to Charlie's office.

The family also wishes to thank Charlie’s caregivers, Cathy Lynch, Ayana Alexander, ShaNique Kennon, and Kamberlie Hamilton, who collectively provided loving care for Charlie.

Lastly, the family wishes to thank Dr. Naji Karam for his many years of loving care for Charlie.

Visitation will be at Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Funeral Directors on Sunday, August 25, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Funeral services will be Monday, August 26, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Elijah Orthodox Christian Church with interment to follow at Rose Hill Burial Park.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Elijah "Flowers That Do Not Wither" fund.

May his memory be eternal.