Charles was born in Natchez, MS, in 1961 and graduated from Trinity Episcopal High School in 1979. Charles was named to the Babe McCarthy Tip-Off Club All-State Team that year. Charles played on the University of Louisiana at Monroe basketball team from 1979-1983 and earned his BBA from University of Louisiana at Monroe in 1983. He was privileged to play for LA Sports Hall of Fame coach Mike Vining on the first ULM basketball team to participate in the NCAA postseason basketball tournament in 1981. Charles received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Mississippi Law School in 1985. Charles was admitted to the Louisiana state bar in 1986 and he has practiced law with Hudson, Potts & Bernstein,LLP, one of the oldest and most prestigious law firms in Louisiana, since that time. Charles became a partner in the firm in 1991 and he practices in Louisiana state court, federal district court and the U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. Charles is a member of the ULM Athletic Foundation and past board member. He is a past member of the ULM Faculty Athletic Committee and he currently serves on the board of Neville Tiger Baseball Boosters, Inc. He is a former, licensed NFLPA Sports agent. Charles is an elder at Covenant Presbyterian Church and is an avid sportsman and outdoorsman. Charles is married to Susan Wolff Herold and they have three children, Michelle Herold McIntyre and her husband Andy McIntyre, Patricia Anatolize Herold and Charles W. Herold, IV.