Charles Ray 'Bunny' Giddings
Charles Ray “Bunny” Giddings was born on Easter Sunday, April 6, 1947 to Helen Marie Majors and Finch Giddings in Midland, Texas. Reared in Ennis and Bardwell Texas. Charles was an active member of St. Mary’s Baptist Church from an early age. He graduated from George Washington Carver High School in Ennis in 1965, and has remained an active alumnus until his passing.
After graduating from high school, Charles enrolled at Paul Quinn College in Waco, Texas. There, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and was a member of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. as well as a gospel group called the Protestant Singers.
Sensing a change in scenery, Charles decided to make a life transition and move to Houston, Texas. There, he was introduced by his sister Jerry, to a friend and co-worker of hers, Ella Lastrape. Charles and Ella were married on February 12, 1987, and to their union, twin boys, Chase and Chad were born on April 3, 1987. He loved his sons very much and was insistent on bringing them up in a good home and environment. Charles and Ella were married for over 20 years until Ella’s passing in January of 2008.
Charles met his second wife, Sonja Leonard via a telephone conversation--initiated by his sister Jerry, on Christmas Night 2014. They were married on May 16, 2016 in Grambling, Louisiana. To this union, Charles and Sonja joined to combine two families into one. Charles and Sonja did so much together. They loved to travel to football games, go on vacations, and cruises, and just cherished each other’s company greatly.
Charles was a very active community member and business owner. He co-founded Top Flight Barbershop in 1986 and was a member of the Texas Association of Tonsorial Artists where he served as the Houston Chapter President and on the State Board. He also worked as a beloved employee of Oak Farms Dairy as a Quality Control Manager and Lab Technician from 1981 until his retirement in 2014.
He was a joy to be around--Never quick to judge, very observant with a unique sense of humor. Charles away saw the glass half-full and he never complained. He was a great breakfast cook and an overall great man. He was a member of The New Jerusalem Baptist where he was an ordained deacon. Charles, at the time of his death, was a member of Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church.
He is preceded in death by his first wife Ella, father, Finch, sisters, Deborah, Jerry, Doris, Terry, Chandra, Cheryl, and Tara; brothers, Donald, Joe Melvin, and Richard.
He leaves in God’s loving care his wife Sonja, mother Helen, sons Chase and Chad, sisters, Olivia Williams, Pamela Jackson, Cynthia McCoy (Charles), Hazel, Diane, and Betty; brothers Lawrence Grimes(Bridgette) Anthony Grimes (Latrice), Ricky, Gary, and Chris, step-children LaTrenda Leonard Sherrill (Tracy), Nathaniel Antonio Leonard Jr. and Travis Matthews; Step-Grandchildren, Imani Rose and Tracy II and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
