She was born in Navasota, Texas before moving to Conroe, Texas, Lake Charles, Louisiana, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Her family moved to Beaumont in 1956 and joined Trinity United Methodist Church the same year. After graduating from Beaumont High School in 1962, she attended LSU for three semesters before transferring to Lamar University and graduating in 1966 with degrees in English and History. That same year she married William Henry Newnum, Jr. Charlotte and Bill had two children, Kathleen Welch Newnum born in 1967 and William Henry Newnum, III born in 1971.
She was a homemaker and very active in the lives of her children serving as president of the PTA and director of concessions for West End Little League. Charlotte’s children participated in many different sports, and she attended every game that they played. In 1983 she began part-time work as the Financial Secretary at Trinity United Methodist Church. She worked at the church for over fifteen years before retiring in 1999.
In retirement she enjoyed gardening, collecting antiques, and volunteer work through Trinity United Methodist Church. She also enjoyed traveling, taking many trips to Europe and cruises, including the maiden voyage of the Queen Mary II. Her traveling routinely took her to College Station, Texas, where she and her husband Bill are Texas A&M Baseball season ticket holders. They followed the team all over Texas and into Oklahoma and Louisiana.
Charlotte was predeceased by her parents, L. M. “Diddy” Welch and Selma Schow Welch of Beaumont; and is survived by her husband of nearly forty-one years, William Henry Newnum, Jr.; two children, Kathleen Newnum Rogers of League City, Texas and William Henry Newnum III of Bryan, Texas; three grandchildren, Andrew Edward Rogers, Christopher William Rogers, and Erin Elizabeth Rogers all of League City, Texas; and a sister, Emily Welch Weihing of Mandeville, Louisiana.
Funeral services for Mrs. Newnum will be 10:00 am Tuesday, March 13, 2007 at Trinity United Methodist Church in Beaumont under the direction of Broussard’s, 1605 N. Major Drive, with interment will follow in Forest Lawn Memorial Park. A gathering of her family and friends will be from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Monday, March 12, 2007 at the mortuary.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her memory may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 5247, Beaumont, Texas, 77726.
