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Charles Berry West, Atlanta entrepreneur, business leader, devoted family man, servant of the Lord Jesus Christ and philanthropist, passed away on July 26th, 2013, peacefully in his home. He was 92 years old. Charles, married to Marjorie Eichenlaub, was a native Atlantan, who grew up on Ponce De Leon Avenue. He was the son of George and Elma Berry West. Charles attended Emory University, but his education was cut short by the Great Depression, as he understood the need to support himself and not be a burden to his family. He went to work as salesmen for West Lumber Company, the family business, successfully selling lumber and coal.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Charles responded to the call to serve his country, by enlisting in the Navy. He was then stationed in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, protecting the country from the advance of the Japanese. He married Marjorie while on leave, and when his tour of duty was over he came home and together they started their family, four boys, and a girl, and he focused his energies on growing the family business, West Building Materials, which he grew to a major chain of 68 stores throughout the southeastern United States. Charles's entrepreneurial instincts, innovation, and drive allowed West Building Materials to be an innovative force in the industry, driving down prices and gaining market share in what had previously been an inefficient supply chain that underserved its customers.
Charles was a firm believer in the protection of individual freedoms and the free enterprise system. He believed the best way to offer opportunity and advancement for all was through the guarantee of individual rights and the assurance of a free enterprise system without the undue burden or influence of government. To this end, he was a founder of the Southeastern Legal Foundation, whose mission was to act through the court system to stand up against unconstitutional interference in individual freedoms and the free enterprise system. He went on to help establish as well "The Loose Group", a coalition of business leaders whose purpose was to support political candidates that stood in support of the free enterprise system and less government intervention. He also funded "chairs" of free enterprise at the collegiate level to encourage teaching the tenants of free enterprise.
Charles was convicted that human dignity could be achieved and the human spirit lifted ONLY through the exercise of free will, personal responsibility, self-support and the unfettered ability of an individual to pursue his or her personal goals and happiness.
Charles always felt a compelling need to serve his fellow man. His instincts told him that he could have the most significant impact by turning his energies and resources to unmet needs rather than well established and well-funded institutions. His early support of the vision of the Shepherd family helped bring about The Shepherd Spinal Center, a world-class facility for the treatment of spinal injuries.
A very close friend of Charles had a daughter who suffered from a mental disorder but had nowhere to seek treatment or find hope. This led him to establish Skyland Trail, in Atlanta, 30 years ago. What started as a fledgling facility to provide housing and support for those who suffered from mental disorders is now considered perhaps the leading institution in the U.S. for providing hope and rehabilitation for the mentally ill. Skyland Trail today serves as the model for other like institutions across the country.
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