Charlis Marie Hill (Turner) was born October 14, 1960 in Seattle, Washington.  (Although she preferred the name Charlis, she was known to many as “Gladys”)  She was the second of five children born to Esther Marie Howell-Brown and Charles Harrison. Charlis was lovingly raised in Seattle by her great aunt Mildred Mary King, affectionately known as Aunt Mae.  Charlis attended Sharples middle school, Lincoln High School, and Seattle Central community college.

Charlis was a very hard worker.  She worked several odd jobs as a teenager.  In 1981 with a child on the way, not working was NOT an option.  So at the age of nineteen she began a career with Pacific Northwest Bell (now known as Century Link) as a Directory Assistance operator. She was a faithful employee and worked for the company for 30 years until her sudden departure.  She was planning her retirement for later this year and opening a floral shop in the Rainier Valley area. In fact, she had even picked out the location.

Charlis was an AMAZING and glamorous woman and mother who loved LIFE!  She absolutely loved her boys Roy Dell, James, and Jordan. And she was completely smitten by her Grandson Legend and her granddaughter Star. She knew the value of happiness and she loved to share it. In addition to being a mother to her own children, she found room in her heart to be a foster parent to many. Charlis enjoyed gardening, cooking for her friends and family, taking walks at the local parks and beaches, being involved with her children and their extracurricular activities, she LOVED animals especially her dogs Buster and Coco.  She also loved fashion, dancing and parties! Theme parties were some of her favorite.  In 2008 Charlis developed a passion for photography. She and her camera were inseparable. She literally captured images of everything. You could almost BET on being tagged in something, somewhere on Facebook when you least expected it.

January 16, 2012 Charlis was diagnosed with stage 4 Colon cancer. Did you know that? Nope, neither did most people. That is because Charlis resolved to LIVE!!!!! She didn’t’ want any pity and she definitely didn’t want to be sad. Columbia city was her stomping ground and you could find her there all year round taking pictures, enjoying the Farmers market, local concerts, picnics with her grandkids, and eating out at all the local restaurants. Charlis was also a member of the Cierra Sisters, A cancer survivors support group. They shopped, went on day trips, went on walks, hosted fashion shows, parties, and other fundraisers. Most of all they just celebrated LIFE!

 

Charlis was called to rest on Thursday January 3, 2013 after her losing her remarkable fight with this illness.

She was preceded in death by her father Charles Harrison and her brother Leondis “Yankee” Hill.

She is survived by her Grandmother Dorothy B. Brown, her mother Esther Marie Howell-Brown, and her uncle’s Frank “Bucky” Brown, and Edgar “Punchy” Batiste.

Charlis leaves to grieve, her 3 sons, Roy Dell Smiley Jr., James Ell Berrysmith, and Jordan David-Jackson Hall, and one daughter Kaiyana McCloud.  She also played a major role in the rearing of her God daughter Laura Kelley-Jahn who was like a daughter to her and a host many very special foster children!

 

She will be greatly missed by her two grandchildren Legend Roydell Smiley and Star Nicole Smiley;

Brothers and sisters Yolanda Berrysmith, Lamont Berrysmith, Lionel, Berrysmith, Craig Berrysmith, Denise Alton, Jewell Harrison Kamara, Sheila Harrison, Charlene Harrison, Tammy Harrison, Anthony McNier, and Tierra Bates. Shannon Kelley and a host of other special family members and friends!

 

Although she will be dearly missed Charlis would probably say Live life and EAT CHOCOLATE!!!!