Day 18 of The Year Apart (and Sometimes Not)

Today's challenge was offered up by Charles:

"Today’s Challenge:

Take 30-45 minutes to write an obituary for your twin. The conceit is that your twin lived a long and full life. Try to stick to that window of time"

Here are the results. 

Charles about Davis:

Davis “D-Pop” Haines, 90, of Birmingham, AL, clocked out of his last shift being human on spaceship E(art)h. A jolly old fellow until his final breath, Davis was rich in smiles and chuckles, a wealth he distributed evenly to all of his children who stood by his side until the very end.

A comedian, voice-over actor, serious actor, drummer, singer and showman, Davis always found a way to perform in front of a crowd. With a fondness for performing in elegant concert halls, on front porches, in cabaret theaters, and preschool classrooms, Davis was always willing to “go the extra mile for an extra big smile,” whether it be a thick southern accent, a operatic rendition of “My Sharona,” or balloon animals, a skill he took great pride in throughout his 70s.

He is perhaps most well known for his lifelong collaborative relationship with his identical twin brother Charles. Known as the Haines Sisters, the two were responsible for 2 hit Broadway musicals, 5 touring productions, 3 feature length films, as well as a myriad of what might best be described as “antics.” Both of the Sisters agreed that, despite colorful careers collaborating with fascinating characters from around the world, being creative together brought them a sort of comfort that remained unmatched throughout their lives.

Outside of performing, Davis was a passionate spokesperson and advocate for the rights and needs of peoples with disabilities. He established the Foundation for Integrating Abilities which created community organization programs that blended people of all abilities as equals in charitable efforts. Davis would often be seen alongside volunteers doing his best to distract their efforts with his “humor jokes.”

Most importantly, though, Davis is survived by his incredibly loving and patient wife Leeann Haines, whose blue eyes and kind he(art) kept Davis’ beating steadily for over 50 years. Their love was characterized by walks to the bakery, frequent trips to Paris, and daily celebrations of Leeann’s birthday. Together they raised 3 children and were incredibly helpful in raising 7 grandchildren, all of whom were, as Davis was fond of saying “mostly perfect.” His final wish was to hold his wife’s hand and sing their favorite song, the name of which they decided to keep between the two of them for all of time.

Davis about Charles:

Charles Bankhead Haines, age 87, of Hilo, HI, left Earth today, February 16th, 2077 at 7:11am of old age. He is survived by his partner Charlotte and their two kids, Kai and Fleur, his 8 grandchildren, brother Davis (Leeann) Haines, sister Lillian (Shawn) Sharp, brother Kent (Andrea) Haines, and countless little ones. He is preceded in death by his parents Charles Davis Haines, Jr. and Rebecca Oliver Haines, his step mother Nancy Musser Haines, and several cats. He was born on June 28, 1990, just ten minutes before his beloved twin brother Davis, in Birmingham, AL. They spent most of their time performing in front of the reflections in the televisions they weren’t allowed to watch until someone finally put them on a stage. Charles graduated high school early and spent a brief time at both Boston Conservatory and DePaul University, where he was a leader in both a cappella and the college radio station. After leaving school, he remained in Chicago working in coffee shops to support his funk band and vaudeville habits until he had had enough fun and moved to Hawaii. There, he met Charlotte, his partner, where they began to build a family. In Hilo, Charles worked as a teacher of voices, with many private students locally and globally. He founded the Hilo Heart Choir, a community choir that travels the world singing with, building homes for, and feeding the less fortunate. His collaboration with his brother Davis, The Haines Sisters, is internationally recognized for their various films, Broadway shows, and Internet collaborations. A lover of music of all kind, Charles travelled extensively across the globe, celebrating and collaborating with artists from many cultures. This love of international music is displayed in his award-winning radio program, The Global Aurality. He loved fruit, friends, and his freedom. The service will be held at Honoli’i Beach Park this Thursday at sunset. In lieu of gifts, the deceased requests that you donate to a local charity that supports the sustainability and equality of local indigenous communities. And in lieu of tears, the deceased has requested that a dance party begin on his behalf just as the sun falls beneath the horizon. He hopes to see you there.