Charles’s parents, Alexander and Jemina Sessums, did not know of their son’s death until they arrived in Waco. They expected to retrieve him from the hospital and take him home to recouperate. They were informed of Charles’s death by Baylor President Samuel Palmer Brooks as soon as they stepped off the interurban train from Dallas around 1:30 p.m. on October 27. Charles had passed away that morning at 9 a.m.