Charlie Veal

Charlie Veal (Leonard) was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather; a respected leader in the New Orleans transportation system; a lifelong community activist; and a cherished pillar of his family. Charlie was born on July 25, 1940, in Batchelor, Louisiana (Pointe Coupée Parish), the son of Howard Veal, Sr. and Sarah (Dennis) Veal. The family likes to joke that Charlie may well have crossed paths with the current Pope Leo XIV during those early years, since the Pope's grandparents also hailed from Pointe Coupée Parish. Charlie's father, Howard Veal, Sr., began his working life as a sharecropper in Pointe Coupée Parish before becoming a senior bulldozer operator, helping to build the highways of Louisiana during the New Deal Era under Franklin D. Roosevelt-— a program that poured more than $89 million into road and bridge construction across the state. Charlie's mother, Sarah Dennis Veal, was also born in Pointe Coupée Parish, and grew up in Harvey, Louisiana to the union of Litt and Mary Harris Dennis. At an early age, her parents relocated to Pointe Coupee Parish and there she was educated in the Pointe Coupee school system. The family later returned to the New Orleans area. Sarah became a member of the deaconess board and a member at the Evening Star B.C. for more than 50 years. She also obtained employment at the medical center of Louisiana (at that time it was referred to as Charity Hospital) working as an assistant in the nursery. She retired after 25 years of employment there. Charlie was raised in a family that prized hard work above almost everything else. He was one of 7 children born to Howard, Sr. and Sarah — Mary, Howard, Alfonse, Charlie, Ophelia, Clarence, and Leroy — along with extended siblings Rufus and Deon (Frezon). At the age of 6, Charlie moved with his family near New Orleans, first to Marrero and then to Harvey, Louisiana, and later came of age in the City of New Orleans's Ninth Ward. A Love Story Rooted in Harvey A Testimony of Courage and Faith It was in Harvey that Charlie first laid eyes on Patricia Lambert, who was visiting her aunt Mable. He would say for the rest of his life — as a young man and as an old one — that she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. As they grew, so did their bond, and they became inseparable. The two married while still teenagers, and soon after welcomed their first child, Kevin. It was the beginning of a marriage that would last more than 65 and a half years — a lasting testament to 2 teenagers who refused to let the world's expectations decide their future. Never give up on our youth. That was the lesson Charlie and Patricia lived out, even when the odds — and the opinions of others — were stacked against 2 teenagers starting a family. In the early days of their marriage, Charlie and Patricia lived with Patricia's grandparents, Mable and Joseph Talton, and great-grandmother, Gertrude Walker ("Mama Gert"), in Gretna, Louisiana. It was in that household that the values of discipline and togetherness were instilled in the young couple — values they carried forward for the next 6 and a half decades. By the time Patricia was 17 and Charlie was 22, the couple had already purchased their first home, in Harvey, Louisiana. Together they went on to raise 3 children: Kevin, Andrea, and Don-Terry, Sr., and — later in life — Charlie had Brittany and Ivy who were also very dear to his heart. He loved all his children deeply. Charlie often told the story of how the birth of his daughter Andrea spared him from being drafted into the Vietnam War. Andrea was born just weeks after Charlie received his draft papers in 1962, and her arrival canceled his assignment to serve overseas. She was always seen as the family's blessing. Building a Family, Breaking Barriers When Charlie was 27 and Patricia was 22, the couple purchased their second home, on Terry Street in Algiers, Louisiana — becoming the first Black family on that street. They hadn't set out to make history; they simply wanted a home they loved. But their move broke down a racial barrier that had long kept the neighborhood closed to Black families. During this period, Charlie built a career with the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA), starting as a bus driver in the late 1960s, when the system was still operated by NOPSI — the New Orleans transportation monopoly that ran the city's public transit and streetcars — and became a supervisor shortly after. He was often seen in the local newspaper standing with his co-workers during an employee strike, when NOPSI workers felt they weren't getting the pay that they deserved. During those strike years in the early 1970s, Charlie worked as a taxicab driver to make ends meet for his family. As his career advanced into upper management, Charlie and Patricia moved once more, this time to Aurora Gardens, a block from the Aurora Country Club — again becoming the only Black family in the neighborhood. Charlie was 36 and Patricia was 31 when they moved into that home, where they would live for more than 43 years. To many who watched them, the young couple who had started out as teenage parents had come to represent stability, dignity, and upward mobility. Tragedy struck the family when Patricia's stepfather, Sam Walters, unexpectedly passed away in 1977. Without hesitation, Charlie and Patricia took in Patricia's younger siblings, Manuel and Sheila, raising them alongside their own children. A Career of Service Charlie spent more than 25 years in upper management with the RTA, serving as Superintendent and Director of Operations of Rails — leading the streetcar operations — capping a 44-year career with the transportation company. Patricia, meanwhile, earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Education from Southern University at New Orleans, becoming the first in either family to graduate from college. She went on to teach at Meadows Community College before retiring from AT&T, first at its headquarters on Baronne Street and later in Clearview in Elmwood. Charlie and Patricia continued to rise professionally as individuals, all the while offering one another their fullest support. Charlie loved his work at RTA to the very end, serving for many years as a consultant with the agency after his retirement. RTA's former CEOs, Phil Gary and Bill Deville, continued to visit with him throughout his life. Charlie was also active in political life throughout his years, supporting candidates and organizational efforts to advance the City of New Orleans, and he often brought his children, Kevin, Sr. and Don-Terry, Sr., into that work alongside him. Charlie took great joy in supporting and celebrating the marriages of his children: Kevin, Sr., Don-Terry, Sr., Brittany, and Ivy. Survived By Charlie leaves behind his wife of more than 65 and a half years, Patricia Veal; his son, the late Kevin Leonard Veal, and Kevin's wife, Carol Washington, along with Kevin's children, Kevin Veal, Jr.; his son, Makhai Veal and Kevin Sr.’s son, Travon Holmes and his daughter, Paige Veal-O'Neal, husband Eric O’Neal; his daughter, Crystal Davis Taylor and her husband Marcus and their daughter, Madison; Charlie’s daughter, Andrea Veal; his son, Drs. Don-Terry, Sr., and his wife, Margo Veal, and their two children, Don-Terry Veal, Jr. and Mason-Terry Veal; his daughter, Brittanae Onawole, her husband, Henry Sr. and their son, Henry Jr. and his daughter, Ivy Rideau, her husband, Julian Rideau and their son, Jonas Rideau; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law from the Lambert and Walters families; and the love of many great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. He is also remembered by Patricia's siblings, whom he and Patricia raised as their own: Sheila Clark and her husband, Michael Clark and their sons Ryan Clark and Chaz Clark. Manuel Walters and his wife, Dionicha Jenkins-Walters and his son, Justin Walters. Even in his final days, Charlie continued to fill people's hearts with joy and laughter. Walking into his room, you would find him smiling — making you laugh, bringing joy and happiness in a way that only he could. And after you prayed for him, he would listen, reach out his hand, and pray for you in return. CHARLIE'S LIFE STANDS AS A CONSTANT REMINDER THAT WE SHOULD NEVER GIVE UP ON OUR YOUTH.

Charlie Veal

July 23, 2026