Mr. Charles Durward Cofield, age 88, of Chatsworth, GA passed away on Sunday, March 23, 2025 at his home surrounded by his loving family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Willis Durward "W.D" and Effie Jessie Thompson Cofield; his infant brother, Jimmy Cofield; his sister, Florence Cofield Moat; and his cherished son, Stevan Duane Cofield.

Survivors include his beloved wife of 48 years, Bernita Cofield of Chatsworth, GA who was not only his partner in life but in business as well; sons and daughters-in-law, Stewart and Carol Cofield of Chatsworth, GA and Christopher and Amy Norwood of Dalton, GA; daughter and son-in-law, Sherri and Ralph Kroll of Brunswick, GA; grandchildren, Alexander, Nathaniel, and Eliza Kroll; Pritchett and Caitlyn Norwood; and Stephanie Gribble; great-grandchildren, Logan Johnson, Dallas "Bite, Bite" Gribble, and River Gribble; numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and other close relatives also survive. Also, his employees, whom he considered family.

Charles was a remarkable leader, a visionary who devoted his life to building companies and investing in the growth of people. His magnetic personality and unwavering passion for life touched everyone fortunate enough to work with him. He lived each day to the fullest, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to inspire us all.

Charles was born August 8, 1936 at home in LaGrange, GA where his parents raised him with a strong Christian faith and he learned about business from a young age as he worked in his parents family-owned grocery store from the age of 12. As a child, he went to a camp for underprivileged children, not knowing that he was one of those underprivileged children until as an adult he was asked to donate to the same camp. These were the first of many experiences that shaped his future as both a business leader and philanthropist.

He graduated from LaGrange High School in 1954 after lettering in football, golf, and track every year of high school. In football, he was named an All-State player his sophomore and junior years and an All-American his senior year. He also became an Eagle Scout and attended both Philmont Ranch and the National Jamboree for Boy Scouts. He left home at the age of seventeen and worked in the Texas oil fields near Houston, where he demonstrated considerable aptitude as he developed a process for producing a polypropylene rope to clean oil spills. Later, he gave the technology away to Texas Tech for the benefit of the industry. Charles also served in the United States Army from 1959-1960 and obtained the Rank E5 before returning home to LaGrange to attend LaGrange College. He started working at Callaway Mills while in college, which was the same year that bulk continuous filament began to be used in the textile industry. He left school one year later after his interest in textiles began to grow. Inspired by his work experience, he then moved to Lafayette, GA in 1960 and matriculated to the University of Chattanooga in 1961 and later at Arkansas A&M. While in college he distinguished himself in his focus on the practical applications of science and chemistry, was inducted into Gamma Sigma Epsilon, the honor society for chemistry, and developed a passion for business and entrepreneurship. He went on to receive an Honorary Degree in Scientific Innovation and Entrepreneurial Leadership from the University of Chattanooga in 2015.

With at least nineteen patents to his name, Charles has been a leading innovator of chemicals for carpet and textile products for decades. Charles offered his expertise to several companies in the carpet industry and lectured in Europe, Asia, Africa, and South American on the theory and practice of textile dyeing. At the time he received an award for product development from Dow Chemical that had never been awarded to a non-employee.

In his career, before going into business for himself, he served as Technical Director for Burlington Industries, VP of Technology/Technical Manager of Tanatex (Sybron Corporation), President of Constellation Dyeing and Finishing which was, at the time, was the largest dye-house in the world; and was Group President of Chromalloy America. He went on to found 17 businesses in the textile and specialty chemical industries. Most recently and until the time of his passing, he was the CEO of Star Holdings which is a group of chemical companies operating in North America, Central America, and South America.

A business partner and friend recently described him as a master teacher who instilled wisdom in every discussion; just, as he was sometimes tough but always fair and honest, prizing efficiency in all relationships; generous, as he showed his love and compassion to those less fortunate, pointing out that those who are better off have an obligation to help those who are in need; and the greatest friend, as he always went above and beyond due to the value he placed on love and caring in friendship, always wanting it to be properly cared for. These four concepts carried through to his personal business philosophy that "all transactions must be equitably beneficial to all involved parties." These concepts were also a reflection of his strong Christian faith.

Above and beyond his professional career, Charles considered his greatest accomplishment to be that of a loving and dedicated husband and father. He felt it was both an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others, both professionally and personally. His personal goal was to "never, never stop learning and leave the world a better place." His dedication and love for his wife Bernita was without end. His greatest loss was the untimely death of his middle son Steve for which he mourned every day until his own death; however, in typical Charles fashion, he used his grief to further his philanthropic efforts. He was proud of all four of his children and grandchildren, and as a gifted storyteller, would delight listeners with stories of both his younger years and of his children and grandchildren.

Community service was also an important aspect of his life. He and Bernita attended Rockbridge Community Church; he served as a Trustee for the University of Chattanooga Foundation; was an avid supporter of the Georgia Sheriff's Association Youth Homes and the University of Tennessee Chattanooga Athletics Association; and previously served as the chairman of the Joint Development Authority for Murray and Whitfield County, GA.

Funeral services to celebrate the life of Mr. Charles Durward Cofield will be held on Thursday, March 27, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. from the chapel of Peeples Funeral Home with Pastor Matt Evans, Rev. Charlie Pratt, and Dr. Reginald Sherrill officiating. Interment will follow at Serenity Hills Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday, March 27, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial donations be made to Rock Bridge Community Church (121 W Crawford St, Dalton, GA 30720), the GA Sherrifs' Youth Homes Foundation (1000 Sheriffs' Way, Madison, GA 30605), the UTC Athletics Association (615 McCallie Ave - Dept 3503, Chattanooga, TN 37403), and the University of Chattanooga Foundation (615 McCallie Ave - Dept 3503, Chattanooga, TN 37403).

Peeples Funeral Home & Crematory of Chatsworth has been entrusted with the arrangements for Mr. Charles Durward Cofield.