CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH EADS

1961-2021

Charlotte Elizabeth Eads, of LaPorte, Texas passed away at The Methodist Hospital on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 after an extended illness. Eads was born on June 14, 1961 in Beaumont, Texas. A graduate of Dobie High School in Pasadena ISD, she was active in Speech and Debate and performed in the orchestra under the direction of her mother. She earned membership multiple years in the All-Region Orchestra as well as being named to the prestigious Texas All-State Orchestra. She graduated from Southern Methodist University, where she was a Dean’s Scholarship recipient for four years. She was awarded a BM with education certification. She completed graduate work at St. Thomas University, Houston, and the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Her career as a music educator began at Westchester Junior and Senior High Schools in Spring Branch, where she taught orchestra from 1983-1985. In the fall of 1985, she began her tenure as head orchestra director at South Houston High School in Pasadena ISD. Her orchestras earned superior ratings at UIL and other music festivals and were named best in class in competitions in Texas, Florida, Colorado, and Washington, DC. She was a very active adjudicator and clinician throughout the southwest region and for more than a decade was on the staff at the Sam Houston State University Orchestra Camp as a director and cello coach. After taking a sabbatical from public school teaching in 2003, she maintained a private cello studio and taught cello students for several years at Clear Lake High School and Dobie High School. She was also a lecturer in Music for the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music.

Ms. Eads held memberships in the Music Educators National Conference, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Orchestra Directors Association, American String Teachers Association, Texas Music Adjudicators Association and Mu Omicron Honorary Society. She was named to the first edition of Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, was included in three subsequent editions and was nominated twice for the Disney’s Teacher of the Year awards

Charlotte’s numerous leadership roles began when she was in college, when she was an ex officio member of the TMEA Executive Board as a representative of the college student section and served as President of the TMEC College Student Division. She served the Texas Music Educators Association as Region XIX Orchestra Chair for four terms, All-State Orchestra Organizer, and as TMEA Orchestra Division Vice President from 1999-2001. She served as a member of the UIL State Sightreading Music Selection Committee. She was the Texas Orchestra Directors Association President in 1997-1998, and also served as Vice President, Secretary, and Member-atLarge. In 2008 she chaired the Conference Planning Committee for the ASTA Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

The lasting impact of the life of Charlotte Eads will be measured by the indelible impression she made on the hearts and minds of those who knew her. Charlotte’s influence had the warmth of an afternoon sun and the comfort of a mother’s hug. She radiated joy, optimism and a contagious enthusiasm which was both uplifting and hopeful. Her laugh was uproarious, her kindness unwavering and her ability to encourage students to believe in themselves absolutely priceless.

Charlotte is survived by brother and sister in law Mike and Amanda Beverly and their children Mark and Alison, cousin Roxy Diaz and daughter Reagan Sadler, and many other cousins as well as her family by choice: Stephen and Ana Payne and daughter Avery; Randy and Mary Hanks and their daughters Madisyn and Kaylee; Michael and Kristy Hanks and children Caleb and Macy; Catherine and Erich Pfingsten and children Jackson, Charlotte and Clayton; Donna and Devin Dozier and children Hudson and Ella; Sarah Hanks and daughter Addilyn and Elizabeth and Matthew Hurkmans. Charlotte was preceded in death by her father Nathanial B. Eads, her mother Barbara F. Eads, and her husband Walter “Jerry” Dunaway.

Deepest appreciation is extended to the amazing staff at Methodist Hospital for their unwavering professionalism, constant support and attentive care. Special gratitude is extended to Ravi Sai Pingali, MD, Specialist in Medical Oncology, and to Natalie Dryden, MD, Specialist in Primary Care.

In lieu of customary remembrances, donations can be made to either of the following scholarship funds: Barbara Eads Memorial Scholarship Fund, payable to Texas Orchestra Directors Association (include Barbara Eads Scholarship on the memo line), TODA, 7900 Centre Park Dr. Suite A, Austin, Texas 78754 or Hisa K. Firestone Memorial Scholarship at www.missouristatefoundation.org.

A memorial service celebrating the life of Charlotte Eads will be scheduled when Covid-19 pandemic conditions allow groups to come together in safety. Until then, may we remember Charlotte’s favorite quote, found on her Facebook page: “An invisible thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place and circumstances. The thread may stretch or tangle. But it will never break.” --Chinese proverb