Charles Riles is a native of Vicksburg and began his funeral service career in 1960. He is a member of numerous professional associations and civic organizations including serving as Governor of the Louisiana-Mississippi-West Tennessee District of Kiwanis International and chairman of the International Class of Governors for Kiwanis in 1993-94. Riles is President of the Street Medical Foundation and a past member of the Mercy Medical Center Board. He was appointed in 2002 to the Mississippi State Board of Funeral Service and was elected chairman in 2003. He is a former member of the Vicksburg Jaycees, a founding member of the Vicksburg Blood Assurance Program, and a past member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board and the Vicksburg Bridge Commission.

For a number of years Riles was associated with Fisher Funeral Home and later Fisher-Riles Funeral Home. In 2002 Riles and his wife Cecelia opened Riles Funeral Home in Vicksburg.

He was elected Coroner of Warren County in 1971 and served on several national boards during his tenure in office. Riles has authored two books, A HISTORY OF VICKSBURG’S ANSHE CHESED CEMETERY and THROUGH OPEN GATES, A HISTORY OF CEDAR HILL CEMETERY.

Riles is married to the former Cecelia Hossley of Vicksburg and has three daughters and five grandchildren.