|
| |
Durant, OK- Charisse Abbey Ladd was born to Daryl and Aretta Abbey on July 26, 1954 in Sacramento, California. The family moved to San Jose, California where Charisse attended elementary school and at age ten joined the San Jose East Side Swim club where she became a championship swimmer. The family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada where Charisse attended school. Charisse, her mother and two younger brothers moved to Atoka, Oklahoma and lived with her grandmother, Clara Yates. Charisse finished high school at Atoka where she excelled in basketball and softball. Following graduation Charisse won the Atoka Beauty Pageant and became Miss Atoka.
Charisse moved to California and worked for Intel Electronics for two years. Charisse moved back to Oklahoma to begin her college degree at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, participating in basketball and softball. On September 26, 1976 she married Charles Ladd and moved to Fox, Oklahoma. Her first two children, Corey in 1977 and Brian in 1979 were born. The family returned to Durant, Oklahoma and daughter Sabrina was born in 1982.
Charisse completed her Bachelor Degree in Physical Education with Elementary Education endorsement certification. She taught briefly then became the Bryan County Coordinator for Girl Scouts of America. She also worked as substitute teacher in various schools before taking a position with Southeastern as an adjunct faculty member in the athletic department. She taught physical education classes and having earned Red Cross Life Saving, Water Safety Instructor, and Arthritic Swim Instructor certifications, she managed all swim classes and other activities at the Southeastern pool.
Medical issues forced her to resign from Southeastern and after convalescence, she took a job with the Choctaw Nation. A committed Christian, Charisse was heavily involved in volunteer church work, including vacation Bible school, church choir for many years and other outreach programs. She was also a member of the Band Boosters Durant Pride Club, receiving special recognition for leadership in 1995. Charisse gave birth to her fourth child, Ethan on April 19, 1995.
While working for the Choctaw Nation, Charisse was elected as Vice-President of the Choctaw Seniors Organization and served several terms for that organization. She took a job with the Chickasaw Nation as administrator of the Tishomingo office for Project Safe for two years. She returned to work for the Choctaw Nation until once again medical concerns forced retirement. The last years of her life were marked by four extensive ankle surgeons, one arm surgery, and from April of 2024 to February of 2025 she had heart and arterial procedures.
Charisse passed away at her home from cardiac arrest on September 3, 2025. She was preceded in death by her parents, Daryl and Aretta Abbey; a brother Daryl Abbey Jr., and grandson Kyle Mitchell. Charisse is survived by husband Charles Ladd, son Corey Ladd, son Brian Ladd, daughter Sabrina Mitchell, son Ethan Ladd, granddaughter Taylor Mitchell, grandson Seneca Ladd, granddaughter Scarlet Ladd, grandson Charlie Ladd, granddaughter Elaine Ladd, great grandson Liam, and brother Jason.
The following poem by Mary Elizabeth Fry was by her husband Charles Ladd because it represents the beauty and grace and strength and power of the eternal spirit that is Charisse Abbey Ladd.
Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I
am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am
the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you
awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet
birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do
not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.
Mary Elizabeth Fry
This site may be freely linked, but not duplicated in any way without consent.
All rights reserved! Commercial use of material within this site is prohibited!
© 2000-2025 Oklahoma CemeteriesThe information on this site is provided free for the purpose of researching your genealogy. This material may be freely used by non-commercial entities, for your own research, as long as this message remains on all copied material. The information contained in this site may not be copied to any other site without written "snail-mail" permission. If you wish to have a copy of a donor's material, you must have their permission. All information found on these pages is under copyright of Oklahoma Cemeteries. This is to protect any and all information donated. The original submitter or source of the information will retain their copyright. Unless otherwise stated, any donated material is given to Oklahoma Cemeteries to make it available online. This material will always be available at no cost, it will always remain free to the researcher.