Charles Joseph Sickles, Sr. (SOUTHEAST)

CHARLES J. SICKLES, Sr., known as “Sickles,” by friends, and “Tracy” by family, passed away on November 10, 2024 at the age of 91. Charles was born in Lebanon, Kentucky to Lee Albert Sickles and Ada Elizabeth Johnson Sickles on May 14, 1933. He was united in matrimony to Virginia M. Sickles (June) on November 26th, 1955. This union was blessed with three sons. Tracy was a member of St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, where on late Saturday afternoons he would be found in church praying, asking the Lord for guidance. Kneeling to pray was not just a Saturday afternoon ritual for Tracy. With a belief that prayers outlive the lives of those who pray, every night, until the point where his legs would not permit him to do so, he knelt bedside and prayed for his family. Tracy attended Lebanon, Kentucky’s Rosenwald High School. He served in the US Army during the Korean War, which provided a basis for intriguing battlefield stories. He frequently talked about his experiences running from foxhole to foxhole to avoid enemy gun fire, sleepless nights due to unrelenting artillery fire, and the unbearably cold Korean weather. Following his US Army service, he moved to Louisville, began working at General Electric Appliance Park and co-founded Bestway Barbershop. His 40-year tenure at General Electric was recognized for perfect attendance, while Bestway Barbershop became a time-tested cultural treasure located within Louisville’s Newburg Neighborhood. Known by “Sickles” within the Newburg community, his contributions to the community are praiseworthy. He, with another historic Newburg resident hand built the first picnic pavilion in Newburg Park, his entrepreneurial longevity was recognized by Newburg Community Leaders; in 2014 Sickles was one of the first recognized and awarded by the Urban Barbers of Louisville as one of the oldest barbers in Louisville with over 50 years of service. His mentoring fostered numerous barbering careers. A true gift to the community, Sickles realized the barber’s chair is more than just a seat where you get a haircut, and he fostered a barbershop environment where mothers feel safe, and men can simply lie back in the barber’s chair with a hot towel across their face, relax and escape the pressure of the outside world. In his barber stand, he kept a supply of “My First Hair Cut Certificates”, which he took great pride in bestowing. From a first haircut, first day of school haircut, prom haircut, graduation haircut, Mother’s Day cut, Easter Sunday haircut, first job interview haircut, wedding haircut, he played an active role with significant milestones of numerous young men’s lives and as a result became a trusted confidant and mentor. He was a Third-Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus, Assumption Council, an Honorable Kentucky Colonel, founding member of Louisville’s Thoroughbred Elks, Army Veteran, Clay Pigeon Champion, avid hunter, fisherman, recreational-camper and Professional Master Barber. He will always be remembered for carrying Certs in his pocket, placing an “X” on the car windshield when a black cat crossed his path, cooking Sh*t on a Shingle, his ability to build or fix anything, gardening, unique quotes like “That boy ain’t worth two dead flies”, “Ahh heck”, “The only friend you got is in your back pocket”, “He can steal the stink out of sh*t”, “Always keep some money in your pocket”, and affectionally telling June, “Gimme some sugar, Baby” while slow dancing to Al Green’s song “For the Good Times”. Tracy cherished being promoted from Father to Grandfather. Some of his biggest smiles were attributed to taking his grandchildren and great-grandchildren fishing, riding them on his lawn tractor, picking tomatoes together in his garden, camping with them, and sitting with the patience of a saint while they rub his pillow-like silver hair. Charles Sickles never met a stranger, only people that he did not immediately recognize. He was known for his investigative salutation, asking two questions, “Who’s your Daddy?” or “Where you from?”. That most often resulted in identifying a family or friend connection. Charles was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years Virginia Sickles; father, Lee Albert Sickles; his mother, Ada Elizabeth Johnson Sickles; Brothers: Lee Edward Sickles, William Bernard Sickles Sr., James Sickles and George Sickles; Sisters: Francis Marie Sickles, Mary Catherine Grady, Ana Elizabeth Durrett and Helen Louise Lewis. His life will forever be cherished in the lives of his children, Charles Sickles Jr (Donna), Ronald Sickles, Sr. (Kimberly), Anthony Sickles (Stefani), Darlene Young Green (Clarence); Grandchildren, LaNina (Tommy Jones), Charles III (LaMetria), Kiara, Krista, Kimberlee, Ronald Jr., Ki’Ron (Diamond), Ariel, Paden, Alston, Trace; Great-Grandchildren Shania, CJ, Trey, Lamiyah, Jermon Jr., Kyrell, and Kylenn; and Sisters, Clementine (Joe) Smalley, Nancy Marie Railey, and a host of relatives and friends. Visitation will be held from 10am - 12 noon Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, 2042 Buechel with the funeral services to follow at 12 noon. Entombment will be in Highland Memory Gardens in Mt. Washington, KY. Arrangements have been entrusted to A.D. Porter & Sons-Southeast Funeral Home, 4501 Bardstown Rd.

Charles Joseph Sickles, Sr. (SOUTHEAST)

May 14, 1933 - November 10, 2024