C.L. Holley (D-AL-5)

Charlie L. “C.L.” Holley

C.L. Holley Congressional Candidate Alabama District 5

Biography of C.L. Holley from Friends of Charlie Holley

Charlie L. Holley was born in 1964 in Limestone County as the youngest of ten siblings. His father worked as a farmer for the land owner and his mother was a homemaker for ten children. His family suffered from extreme poverty but his parents used those times to teach their children the value of hard work. His father died when Charlie was only five years old and his mother was forced to carry the entire burden of the family. Growing up in difficult times, he learned at an early age to work hard in the fields of various owners, picking and chopping cotton, picking strawberries, baling hay, and performing various other challenging occupations to help his mother feed the family and pay the bills. As he grew up, he watched the tremendous struggles of his mother and family and realized the importance of a good education.

As a student-athlete, he graduated in 1983 from East Limestone High School in Athens, AL. and was awarded the Trendsetter Award, an award that recognizes uniqueness in an individual. He was also awarded a full basketball scholarship to Snead State Jr. College in Boaz AL. where he met his future wife Cassandra. After leaving Snead, he transferred to UA Huntsville on a full basketball scholarship, graduating with a B.S./B.A. specializing in the field of Management Information Systems. Soon thereafter he joined Huntsville Hospital as a Computer (Unix) Administrator where he continues his employment today. Charlie began studying at Heritage Bible College in 2007 and received a Masters of Biblical Counseling degree in 2010.

In the year 2000, Charlie accepted the call into ministry and delivered his first sermon a few months later. Unfortunately, in 2001, the family suffered the sudden and tragic death of their thirteen-year-old son Torrell, who died from a sudden heart attack while playing basketball at Liberty Middle School. Four years later Charlie and Cassandra co-founded CL Holley Ministries Inc., a ministry that provides comfort, encouragement, and inspiration for those experiencing various trials in life. It was at this time that Charlie began to write as he used the pen to cope with grief. He has since written four books.

He serves at Union Chapel MB church as an Associate Minister, Bible Class Teacher, and Bible College Instructor. He has been married to the same beautiful woman for over 23 years and has a teenage daughter who is an aspiring Actress/Model and freshman at UAHuntsville. Charlie truly has a heart to serve others, cares tremendously for all people, and has a passion for politics. He has decided to enter the political arena and offer himself as Servant-Congressman for the US 5th Congressional District of Alabama.