CARL EDWARD GILES

Carl Edward Giles was born on July 22, 1946, in Birmingham, Alabama, to the late Marshall Giles and Ruth Neal Giles, and passed away on August 24, 2026, at home. He was the ninth born of Madear's sixteen children: Queen Ester, Charles, Idasephine, Mary, Booker T, Dorothy, Napoleon, Betty, Annette, Jerome, Shirley, Michael, Denise, and Rosalind. He spent his early years in Bessemer, Alabama, before his mother relocated the family to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1961. He attended Conroy Jr. High School in Manchester while always maintaining employment in support of himself and his family. He also completed Carpentry Coursework at Connelly Trade School in the Hill District. Carl met and married Bernadette Clifford, his wife of 61 years, on August 1, 1965. From their union, two beloved children were born: Tina (Bean) Louise Viola Giles and Carl (BooBoo) Edward Giles Jr*. He also fathered three other beloved Daughters: YaLinda (Linda) Giles-Simmons, Gwedolyn (Candy) Giles-Gilmore, and Makiya C. L. Giles-Wimbs. Carl was lovingly called "Dad" by many of his 30 grandchildren and 41 great-grandchildren. These babies were a tremendous comfort and source of pride for him. Through his lineage, his spirit and joy of life live on. Carl's relationship with God started at home and deepened through his fellowship, service, faith, and wisdom at New Zion Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon. His heart, love of people, common sense, and God's golden rule guided how he lived his life and made him much loved and sought after in the community whenever a meal needed preparing, whether for one or a thousand. He worked for and retired from the City of Pittsburgh Department of Environmental Services, and his CDL Driver's License allowed him to progress in job titles over the years. (*These family members preceded Carl in death.)