Charlotte Gonzalez
Service Over Self
story by ROBIN COKER photos by SUSAN DELOACH
It takes all kinds to make the world go round, and for some communities … it takes a little extra. When your home also happens to be where “Marines are Made,” the moving parts are many. Charlotte Gonzalez is a liaison between our civilian and military communities. Acting as current Operations Officer for Marine Corps Community Services (MCCS), she holds the tide chart to assist in navigating support services for our Marines and their families. MCCS includes many offerings and programs, supporting our military families and single Marines and Sailors with pretty much everything from child care centers, barbershops, entertainment … everything down to even the vending machines. KidFest Beaufort and the Air Show are a couple of their biggest community events that we may all be very familiar with. A full list of services can be found on their web page (mccs-sc.com) along with a calendar of events and ways to support their mission to serve, including sponsorships and volunteer opportunities to bridge the gap between our Marines, their families, and our local community. Acting as a hypothetical bridge between our military and our community, she is beyond grateful for the immense support and the way this town has historically shown up and continues to take care of our Marines and their families — something she stresses that is not taken lightly or for granted.
A Navy veteran herself, Charlotte found her feet planted in our hometown in 1995 and has no plans of going anywhere anytime soon. A “village” in which the community always rises to the occasion to come together, connect, and lift each other up no matter the background or differences of opinion, she has found a resonance of her internal values. The art in her craft is her profound —yet very natural ability — to connect the dots in achieving a creative solution. “If I do not know the answer, I will find out who does and get you taken care of,” replies Charlotte. Perhaps ingrained into her mindset during her military career, this philosophy makes all the difference in effective leadership. She hopes this will create a ripple effect for others to show up and do the same. Raised in an era of self-sufficiency, one in which being taught how to make things happen, such as growing your own food and living off the land, has instilled in her the ability to also persevere through adversity. Instead of throwing up your hands in surrender when presented with a perceived issue, find a solution … or “find someone who can.” If you have ever found yourself in conversation with Charlotte, in regards to what makes her maybe just a little different than her peers, she will humbly and quite simply tell you, “I just show up and do the right thing, nothing special.”
When it comes to her integration into the community, she strongly recommends diving into volunteering locally to support the outstanding organizations that are making a difference. Finding herself in search of a group setting to connect while making a difference, she joined the Rotary Club of the Lowcountry. This organization mirrors her philosophy of “Service Above Self,” a group that shows up with that local passion and enthusiasm to keep our beloved Lowcountry home intact and thriving. Charlotte also highly recommends Leadership Beaufort to any individual who may have a curiosity and desire to learn from others, and be connected in this community. No matter how long you have resided here in Beaufort, she shares the astronomical benefit in this opportunity to learn. Service over self and “just doing the right thing,” are not only her intrinsic values but also are mirrored in her actions. It’s no surprise Charlotte’s name was thrown into the hat to be recognized as one of Beaufort’s most inspiring women. “We cannot say enough wonderful things about Charlotte. Charlotte is enthusiastic, persistent, open-minded, and motivated, believing in moving forward with positive energy and being grateful for this life. Charlotte is honest, and her integrity speaks volumes in everything she does. She does so much for everyone in our military community and is a giving person to our local community. She goes above and beyond with giving to everyone and everything. She is deserving of being recognized for everything she does.”
If she could construct a dream job after retiring, she could see herself as a Lowcountry tour guide, sharing her love for our community and the land it stands upon with anyone willing to listen. “I love this community, and I love to talk to people about it. If I retire, I could drive them around and tell them how amazing this community is, sharing with them about our local organizations, such as CAPA, Help of Beaufort, just to name a couple. There are so many, and when I slow down, that’s what I am going to do.” However, if we are being honest, we know she is a woman who is hard to slow down and will not be hanging up her hat anytime soon. There was, of course, an emphasis on “IF”… in speaking of retirement. When Charlotte isn’t running backwards in high heels connecting and supporting our Marines and Sailors, she is either pursuing joy while cooking, or spending time with her family. A mother, a grandmother, and now great-grandmother, she prioritizes dedicating her time off to ensure she doesn’t miss out on the moments that can be so easily taken for granted in the hustle and bustle of life. We all could benefit greatly from the beautiful example Charlotte sets in her role as MCSS Operations Officer. But, even more importantly, let’s be inspired to put service over self, show up alongside the community to preserve our Lowcountry home, and always extend a hand to whoever needs it, regardless of circumstance or background.
