Charlene Baskerville

Charlene Baskerville born January 17, 1950 in Newark New Jersey went home to be with the Lord on March 27, 2025, in Pflugerville, Texas following a brief illness.

Charlene‘s life was a beacon of love, kindness and unwavering faith. Her presence illuminated the lives of all who knew her, the legacy of her compassion, her deep-rooted love for family, her devotion to her friends, and her steadfast belief in God will continue to inspire and uplift those whose lives she touched.

Her passing has left a void in the heart of her family, friends and many more who personally knew her.

Charlene was preceded in death by her beloved mother, Annie Colbert, her youngest son Mikayil Rasul, her husband, Alfonso Baskerville affectionately known as Kojo, her cherished sister, Judith Colbert and Charles Willingham .

Charlene leaves behind a devoted family who will forever hold her memory in their hearts. She is survived by her son, Kamau Gaynor, her sisters, Sandra Sayyed (Hakim), Claudette Moore (Stewart), Beverly Mendes, Dawn Green (Lewis), and her brother Harold Colbert. She is also remembered by her adored grandchildren: Al-Jani, Kamau O., Kai, Mikayil E, Mikah, Mikaiya, and Elijah, who were the light of her life. Charlene is further survived by a host of nieces nephews cousins and a beautiful goddaughter Briana Allen, and many others who lovingly referred to her as “Mom”.

Charlene‘s educational journey was one of dedication and excellence. She graduated from Central High School in 1967 and went on to earn a B.A. in English from Rutgers University Douglass College. She further her education with a M.A. in Educational Leadership from Montclair State University along with various other Masters degrees and certifications. Charlene dedicated over 30 years to the field of education starting as an elementary school teacher in the Orange Public School System. She went onto to teach at Arts High School in Newark and later worked as a curriculum specialist for the board of education. She earned her Principalship and served as assistant principal at both Malcolm X Shabazz High School in Newark and Columbia High School in South Orange/Maplewood before becoming the principal at Hurden-Looker Elementary School in Hillside, New Jersey, where she retired after the decades of service to the educational community.

Beyond her role as an educator Charlene’s life was filled with passion and pursuits that brought her immense joy. She was a talented dancer, a skilled hair braider and an avid lover of the theater. Charlene made regular trips to Broadway and was not only an actress with the TUI theater in Newark, but also a playwright creating many memorable works, including the well love play The Champion which drew hundreds to its performances. In recent years she went back to school to pursue a career in voice overs.

In her spiritual journey. Charlene was deeply committed to her faith. She attended Bible school and was later ordained as an evangelist, wanting to increase her outreach for the kingdom of God in 2017, she graduated from chaplaincy school. A true woman of prayer, she had a burning desire to see others come to Christ. She was actively involved in mission work, traveling the world to serve. In addition she to traveled numerous places for vacation. She made frequent trips to Israel, Africa, Australia, Europe, Singapore, South America, and the Caribbean islands. Next month she was set to visit Brazil one of the few places she had yet to explore. Charlene‘s remarkable global travel spanned every continent, except Antarctica.

A woman of great generosity. Charlene always helped her family and friends. She was a supporter of countless charitable organizations always eager to help others achieve their dreams. She was a true advocate for people, consistently encouraging those around her to pursue their passion and to be the best version of themselves.

In her free time, Charlene was an avid reader and a collector of books with an enthusiasm for board and card games. She was particularly known for her prowess as a Scrabble champion.

Charlene’s spirit, wisdom and love will forever be cherished by all who knew her. Her memory will continue to live on in the hearts of her family, friends, colleagues and everyone she touched.

A viewing and funeral service will be held at Cotton Funeral Services Orange, New Jersey on April 11, 2025 at 9 AM.

Charlene‘s favorite Bible verses were Psalm 91, Psalm 23, and she often quoted proverbs 11:21 “…the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.”

The family extends their deepest gratitude to everyone who cared for Charlene during her brief illness. Special thanks to her son Kamau and his children, Al-Jani, Kamau O, and Kai for their love and Devotion to their umbuya. We are also immensely grateful to Tangela Gaynor for her unwavering presence by Charlene’s side and to her Texas church family Union Church for their ongoing support during this difficult time.