Charles Emil Jefferson

Charles (CJ CE) Emil Jefferson died on April 1, 2026, in Belleville, Illinois. He was 73 years old.

Charles was part of a military family. He was born on May 27, 1952, in Burtonwood, England and was in London when Queen Elizabeth was crowned in 1953. There are pictures of Charles and the rest of his family having a picnic in front of Stonehenge. The family then moved to Chateauroux, France. While in France, Charles went with the rest of his family to the World’s Fair in Brussels in 1958. This was the first world convening after World War II. Before the family returned to the states in1960, they toured Europe. Charles went to the beaches in Barcelona and the catacombs in Rome. They took corny pictures pretending they were holding up the Leaning Tower of Pisa. They visited Mad King Ludwig’s castle in Bavaria. There are photographs of Charles wearing a Tyrolean hat. Charles and his family returned to the States in 1960 right at the beginning of a new day for America.

Charles lived with his parents Jeff and Doris Jefferson, his brothers, Jim and David and sister, Eva on Scott Air Force Base, Illinois and in Mascoutah, Illinois. He was active in sports and scouts. Friends of his from his college days remembered that he scored perfect scores on his SATs. He originally went to the Air Force Academy. He also served in the US Army. He attended Northwestern University where he majored in Economics. He was a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.

Dr. Cornelius AKA Corky Rogers was a fraternity brother of Charles. He travelled down to southern Illinois from his home in Chicago to spend time with Charles as Charles’ health declined. He remembers Charles as being very smart and very dedicated to using his brain to help others. Corky was a loyal and loving friend to the end. We should all be so fortunate to have a friend, such as Corky.

Charles dedicated his career to strengthening communities. He worked in economic development for several nonprofit organizations and served as a grant writer for various agencies, including the East St. Louis Housing Authority. His work there took place before he and his partner Victoria met, but it remained an important part of his professional legacy.

Wellness was another passion that shaped his life. Charles founded a corporate massage business that partnered with companies to provide on‑site massage services for employees — long before workplace wellness became a trend. His curiosity and creativity later led him to begin writing a book on the art of cuddling.

Coaching, however, was one of the roles that brought him the most joy. Charles coached select basketball teams such as the Mascoutah Shooters and the Hawks at the Sportsplex, as well as a select, Mascoutah baseball team.

Charles lived with his partner, Victoria, for many years, and he played a pivotal role in teaching and coaching Victoria’s son, Elliott. Under Charles’ guidance, Elliott developed the skills and confidence that helped him earn the starting point guard position for the Mascoutah High School Varsity Basketball team from 2005–2007. During that time, the team won their division to compete at the state level.

Charles will be remembered for his generosity, his creativity, his unwavering support of others, and the countless lives he touched through his work, his coaching, and his love for his family.

Charles was involved in Democratic politics following in the footsteps of his parents, Doris and Chief Warrant Officer James Jefferson.

Charles was also very interested in metaphysics and spirituality. He was greatly affected by the book Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. Flow is described as “a state of consciousness in which individuals are fully absorbed in an activity, experiencing profound satisfaction and intrinsic motivation.”

Charles was well liked in Mascoutah and will be missed. Tim Boyce, a friend of Charles, said “Charles was always thinking! Charles was a proponent of having movies in downtown Mascoutah. We now do that once a month in the summer and fall. I think of him every time we are setting up the equipment for a show!”

Charles is survived by his brothers James and David, his nephews, Leo and Tony Jefferson, his cousin, Marva Bird, his sister, Eva, and many friends and former schoolmates. Our hearts are broken.

He will be interred with military honors at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis Missouri at 9:30 AM on Thursday, April 16, 2026. The family invites you to join us after the memorial to share memories, stories, and a meal in the Solarium of the Ritz Carlton Hotel, 100 Carondelet Plaza, St. Louis Missouri.

Contributions in Charle’s name can be made to The Black Freedom Fund which is the largest pooled fund in the country supporting movement building and black-led organizations. https://fundblackfreedom.org/about-us/