Charles Viney, Jr.

"No person, trying to take responsibility for her or his identity, should have to be so alone" (Adrienne Rich, Sources). Yet when Charles Viney, Jr. died of COVID-19 on April 11, 2020 at the age of 66, he was very alone and most likely, terribly afraid.

Charles was born to parents Evelyn Gothard Viney-Mitchell and Charles H. Viney, Sr., who are both deceased. He was raised with four brothers and two sisters in Springfield, Ohio. He attended South High School and was a top area wrestler at Springfield South. Charles' athletic accomplishments included earning a third-team slot at the 145-pound weight classification on the 1971 Daily News All-Miami Valley Wrestling Squad. His academic accomplishments included graduating summa cum laude in Business at Marion Technical College.

Charles was a good person at heart, according to his sister, Kim Salah, and evident by his compassion toward others. Known as a role model within Pickaway Correctional Institution in Ohio, Charles assisted other people with drug problems. He used his past knowledge and what he learned from his own mistakes to positively influence those around him. He didn't allow his circumstances, health, nor environment to prevent him from doing what he could to help others. His selfless deeds and acts of love and compassion will ensure that Charles will never be forgotten. “People may not remember exactly what he said or what he did, but they will remember how he made them feel” (Maya Angelou).

In spite of the fact that Charles was in poor health prior to contracting COVID-19, his unsanitary and crowded living conditions most likely were direct contributors to his contracting the deadly virus, which ultimately killed him. Charles Viney, Jr. was the first person to die of COVID-19 in Ohio prisons, but sadly, he was not the last. Continual systemic disregard and structural abuse guarantees that many, many more will share the same fate as Charles, unless something major changes. One more preventable death is one more too many. The question we should all be asking now is, "When will enough be enough?"

May you rest in peace, Charles. You are finally free.

This memorial was written by MOL team member Stacy Singleton with information from reporting by Chris Stewart of the Dayton Daily News. Transcribed by Frances Keohane.