Obituary of Charli Jorden Bobinchuck

Charli Jorden Bobinchuck, 11 It is with a heavy heart we announce the passing of Charli Jorden Bobinchuck, daughter of Bryan and Daisy Bobinchuck and a true child of Hilton Head Island, who left this earth on June 21st, 2018. Taken from us at just 11 years old, her light did not shine long, but while it did, it illuminated everyone around her. Hers is a spirit that touched every person she met, energizing them and inspiring them. She loved Hilton Head Island deeply and dearly and found an endless fascination in learning about its wildlife and environment. Perhaps the only thing she loved more was passing on what she had learned and sharing her gifts with others. Her love of animals led her to volunteer her time with Critter Management, assisting with housing and caring for creatures great and small and spending time around the animals she found so fascinating. She led regular animal education programs to give the community a better understanding and minimize fear of wildlife on the island. Charli is a child wise beyond her years and filled with knowledge and infectious wonder. When caring for chicken hatchlings during this past year, she even made room in her bed for one tiny runt chick who would not have otherwise survived. This is just one of many instances where her love of nature and animals shined through. Since she first learned how to swim at just one year of age, she gravitated towards the water, and felt passionate that the local waterways be protected. She was constantly cleaning up what others had discarded and helping islanders see how vital it was to preserve our environment. Just weeks ago, on their last Father’s Day boat ride on the May River, the plastic cap came off a water bottle and she convinced the captain to turn the boat around, so she could retrieve it. Such was her passion for the Lowcountry’s delicate natural balance. That passion guided her every move. During Hurricane Matthew, she and her father evacuated to North Carolina with a group of 30 islanders who camped for three days in the woods. Here she was able to catch a crawfish with her bare hands and learned wilderness skills. Closer to home, she knew every secret spot on the island, from the climbing tree in her own neighborhood to foraging for blueberries and identifying rare plants in the Audubon Newhall Preserve. Accompanying and assisting her on these adventures, her parents would marvel at her joy for nature. She spent the solar eclipse in Anderson, SC, with her father Bryan, swimming in the lake and celebrating nature’s phenomenon. Her mother, Daisy, encouraged Charli to be a free spirit, instilled the importance of having good manners, being kind, and loving others, and to express herself through visual arts. Charli’s love of art and freedom of expression began as a toddler. She loved having a blank canvas to fill with vibrant colors and ideas of the world around her. Charli also was an avid music lover, who had been working on learning the ukulele. She, her mother, and father, share a passion for animal wildlife education. Beyond her passions and advocacy, she had a prodigious intellect that was celebrated through her school accomplishments. She loved being an Otter at Hilton Head Island IB Elementary School and was dedicated to being an active student within the school. Wise beyond her years, Charli was reading at an 11th grade level by the fourth grade, she was enrolled in the Spanish dual language program at IB, the highly competitive Gifted & Talented program, and first-place winner of this past year’s science fair. Even outside the classroom, she excelled. During a recent field trip to St. Christopher’s, she served as a mini-naturalist to her fellow students, helping identify shells, plants and animals. Charli had an innate ability to pass her confidence and knowledge on to her peer group. The only thing more inspiring than her mind is her heart. She took special effort to befriend everyone around her, young and old alike. In her neighborhood of Yacht Cove, she was both big and little sister to a tight-knit group of children who became family thanks to her fierce friendship, loyalty and kindness. It was among these friends that she spent her last days on earth, exploring the neighborhood and watching the fireworks at Shelter Cove Harbour. This miracle baby grew to become a young lady full of life, hope and promise. Restaurateurs, retirees, doctors, musicians, visitors, business owners, neighbors, “family” and family alike were inspired by her and they all deeply love her. The light she shines on all of us will continue to brighten the darkest corners of our grief. Charli is survived by her Mother, Day “Daisy” (Barnes) Bobinchuck; Father, Bryan John Bobinchuck; Great-Grandmother, Patricia Mehaffey; Grandmother, Robin Mehaffey (Clark Rieke); Grandfather, Robert Barnes (Carolyn); Uncle, Mike Barnes (Tabby); Cousins, Ryer & Jewel Barnes. She is preceded in death by her Great-Great Grandmother, Elvira Barnes; Great-Great Grandmother, Pauline (Maca) Pendergast; Great-Grandfather Charles Mehaffey (whom she was named after); Great-Grandmother Betty Williamson; Grandmother, Barbara Lynn Williamson, and the many animals she came to care for including her beloved dog “Gril” and “Max” who was with her during her last moments. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the Charli’s Critters Education Fund through Community Foundation of the Lowcountry. Checks can be mailed to 4 Northridge Drive, Suite A. Hilton Head Island, SC 29926 or online at www.cf-lowcountry.org. A celebration of life will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, June 27, at Chaplin Community Park with a walk and flower release event at the Folly afterward. This is an especially meaningful site to Charli and her family as she grew up fishing and crabbing the inlet and playing in the Folly tidal pool and spent one of her last days there. Flowers will be provided and complimentary transportation to the flower release will be available to those who need it. Additional free parking can be found at Castnet Drive. Dress is casual, pets are welcome and so is the community. Please join us as we celebrate Charli and the life that she lived so joyfully.