Charles Neil Williamson, loved by many

Charles Neil “Charlie” Williamson of Dagsboro died suddenly Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

 

Charlie was born at Beebe Medical Center Dec. 28, 2005, at 10:42 p.m., weighing 9 lbs. and 10 oz. and measuring 21 1/2 inches long. He was greeted by his big brother and best friend, Jack, as well as his mom and dad, Elizabeth and John Williamson. Their family grew to include his sister, Lucy, and his younger brother, Max, who survive him.

 

Charlie attended Lord Baltimore Elementary, Selbyville Middle School, and graduated from Indian River High School in 2024. He received his Baptism, First Holy Communion and Confirmation at St. Ann’s in Bethany Beach. He played baseball at the Pyle Center, indoor soccer with River Soccer, and basketball for fun at the court at Blackwater Village, at Mim and Popcorn’s house, and at Uncle Kev’s on Burbage with cousins and uncles. He also loved to listen to the band Radiohead.

 

As a young child, Charlie was adventurous and fearless. He climbed, jumped, played, and swam in the pool and the ocean. He rode boogie boards and played baseball, basketball, and video games. He hit the piñata at birthday parties. Charlie went to the beach with family, went to Great Wolf Lodge, and visited the Outer Banks on breaks from school. Great Wolf Lodge was so fun for him, he wrote about it in a fifth-grade school project in an article about his first time traveling, “The water park was awesome! There was a wave-riding simulator, a slide with lights in it, and a slide with a funnel on it. It took three hours to get there, but it was worth it!”

 

That quote, written at 10 years old, gives a glimpse of Charlie as a person. He saw both sides of things and took the good with the bad. Yes, it took three hours to get there, but it was awesome!

 

Charlie was honest. He was fair. He was his own person. He loved animals, and all animals loved him. He was the type of person who said the answer and told the truth when you asked him. He didn’t take sides, and knew that the best way to see the world was to look at it objectively. He didn’t have the personality to make things complicated; he just lived his life. For a school project as an older student, Charlie described himself as altruistic and independent.

 

Charlie enjoyed video games and had an online community of teammates and friends that he spent time with. He started playing video games seriously as he got older and considered a possible career in gaming or computers. He started college and, like many young adults, he decided it might not be for him. He had worked during the summer in a family cleaning business and year-round at Giant. Recently, he started working with his dad and brother, Jack, at Sullivan’s Landscaping and was figuring out his next steps.

 

Charlie is survived by his mother, Elizabeth Williamson of Ocean View; his father, John Williamson of Dagsboro; his brothers, Jack Williamson and Max Williamson; and his sister, Lucy Williamson. He is also survived by his grandmother, Jeannie “Mim” Fleming of Dagsboro.

 

Additionally, Charlie leaves behind six uncles, Kevin Williamson, Mark Williamson (Julene), Paul Williamson (Kelly), Matt Williamson (Laurren), Brian Fleming and Kevin Fleming; seven aunts, Melissa Schroeder, Colleen Fleming, Debbie Fleming (Philip Cappa), Karen Fleming, Amy Hobbs (Joe), Monica Scott and Ann Marie Aguilar (Angel); 26 cousins, Bryan Beyard and Ruthie Adams, Isaac Steinberg (Marisa), Bethany and Rebecca Schroeder, Shona, Cyrus, Athena and Atticus Fleming-Lloyd, and Augustine Aguilar, Jaelyn, Elijah, Wyatt, and Callan Williamson, Lily and Isabel Scott, Naomi, Audrey, and Joey Hobbs, Baylie and Caroline Williamson, Emilee, Matthew, and Grant Williamson, and Siena and Sebelle Steinberg.

 

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, John “Pop” and Sue “Grandmom” Williamson; his grandfather, Neil “Popcorn” Fleming; and two cousins, Paige Williamson and Josie Fleming-Lloyd.

 

Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation from 10 to 11 a.m., Friday, May 30, at St. Ann’s, 691 Garfield Pkwy., Bethany Beach, followed by Mass at 11 a.m.

 

In lieu of flowers, the family of Charlie suggests being kind, picking up a basketball, spending time with family and friends, joining a child on a video game and asking about their interests, doing things for others and expecting nothing in return, learning a language, adopting a cat, paying it forward, taking the bugs outside instead of swatting them, and having patience with all people.