Charles Otis Houston

May 29, 1934 - June 9, 2013

Charles Otis Houston, 79, passed away on June 9, 2013 at his home on Lake Talquin. He was born in Leon County, Florida on May 29, 1932 to Searcy Otis and Francis Elizabeth Williams Houston. Charles grew up in Tallahassee, Florida where he attended Leon High School. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict. He graduated from North Florida Junior College in Madison, Florida and attended Valdosta State College in Valdosta, Georgia. Charles served as a Southern Baptist minister for over fifty years in many churches in north Florida and South Georgia, concluding his service at Santa Clara Baptist Church in Quincy, Florida. He retired from the ministry due to health issues in 2011. During the 1960's and early 1970's he served as Chaplain of the Leon County Sheriff's Department under Sheriff Raymond Hamlin and was a member of the Leon County Sheriff's Posse. He was also owner-operator of Charles' Exterminating. Charles is survived by his wife of 14 years, Sandra Sammons Houston; daughters Debby Miller (Freddy) and Brenda Wood (Mike) of Tallahassee, Florida and step-son Rick Sammons (Deborah) of Atlanta, Georgia; grandchildren Annie and Michael Diane Wood of Tallahassee and Austin, Madison and Nicholas Sammons of Atlanta, Georgia; his brother Frank Houston (Irma) and sisters Hazel Benton (Dick) of Crawfordville, Florida and Mary Bradley (J.M.) of Tallahassee; and numerous nieces and nephews. Charles was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 42 years, Nell Roberts Houston; his daughter, Theresa Ann; his sister, Inez Nolan of Forest City, Arkansas and brother, Edwin Houston of Tallahassee. The family will receive friends from 5 – 7 PM, June 11, 2013 at AmeriCare Funeral Home, 20 S. Duval Street, Quincy, Florida. Services will be held at 11 AM on June 12 at Santa Clara Baptist Church, 841 E. Jefferson Street, Quincy, Florida with burial to follow at Oakland Cemetery in Tallahassee, Florida. AmeriCare Funeral Home (850) 627-1111, www.americarefc.com, is in charge of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Big Bend Hospice (www.bigbendhospice.org or 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32308) or Santa Clara Baptist Church General Fund.