Reverend Charles Edward Higgins

Charles was born on January 8, 1950, to Reverend Lester & Florence (Oakes) Higgins in Hugo, Oklahoma. He passed from this life on Thursday, May 25, 2023, in Cleveland, Tennessee following a brief illness. Charles graduated from Hugo High School in 1968 and then continued his education at Oklahoma City Southwestern College where he graduated in 1972 with his Bachelor of Arts in Religion. He later continued his education studying at Bethany Nazarene College and at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary.

Charles married Joyce (Herron) on June 26, 1970, in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He and Joyce became the proud parents of Nathan Edward Higgins on November 1, 1976.

Charles was an ordained bishop with the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) having received his first level of credentials in 1971. His first love in ministry was pastoring. Together, he and Joyce pastored South East Church of God and Northwest Church of God, both in Oklahoma City. He also served as pastor at the Campus Church of God in Minot, North Dakota, Covenant Chapel in Marietta Georgia, and Mustang Church of God Mustang, Oklahoma, concluding his pastoral ministry with a 27-year tenure at Johnson Church of God in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Retiring in 2013, he and Joyce moved to Cleveland, Tennessee to be near their son, Nathan, daughter-in-law, Jennifer, and their one cherished granddaughter, Natalie.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his wife, Joyce, of the home; son and daughter-in-law, Nate & Jennifer Higgins; one granddaughter, Natalie Grace Higgins of Cleveland, TN; his brother, Bishop Les Higgins (Donna) of Cleveland, TN; his sister, Debbie Bates (Mike) of Harrah, OK; and numerous extended family members.

A Remembrance of Life Ceremony will be held on Monday, June 5, 2023 at 2:00 pm at the Johnson Church of God, 46209 Garretts Lake Road, Shawnee, Oklahoma 74804 with Chaplain (LTC) Calvin Eastham, U. S. Army (Ret), Reverend Gary Green and Dr. James Cossey officiating. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be sent to Lee University. Please include 'In Memory of Charles Higgins' with your donations. These donations will go to support students seeking to become ministers and pastors.

There are three ways to give to Lee: Mail, Online, and by Phone.

MAIL - A check written to Lee University with "In Memory of Charles Higgins" in the memo line to Lee University, Central Gifts, P.O. Box 3450, Cleveland, TN 37320-3450.

ONLINE - by going to www.leeuniversity.edu/give When the form loads, click "fund" and choose "other" in the drop-down box and in the other comments box list "In Memory of Charles Higgins."

PHONE - 423-614-8324 or 1-800-614-8000 and ask for Advancement Services (ext. 8324)