Charles Bardin Endowment
supporting the RUMC Counseling Center
Life is full of ups and downs, challenges and change. The RUMC Counseling Center’s independent practitioners are here to help. Fee-based therapy sessions are available for individuals, couples and families of the Roswell community.
The RUMC Counseling Center is supported by The Charles Bardin Endowment, which helps subsidize individual and family therapy sessions for individuals who lack the insurance or financial resources to cover the full cost of the therapy they need. Additionally, the endowment supports general operations of the counseling center.
Meet Charles Bardin
Charles was the son of Charles Jr. and Ellen Bardin, originally from Tampa. Growing up in a loving, close-knit family, he was the eldest of three boys. To help cover his college expenses, he worked as a playground director overseeing three parks in Tampa, where he organized activities for both children and teenagers.
After graduating from college, Charles fulfilled his childhood dream of becoming a detective with the Tampa Police Department. While still at the University of South Florida, he created a TV show called “You and the Law”, which aired for several seasons. He also made it a point to visit elementary schools in uniform, engaging with students to help shift any negative perceptions they might have about police officers. His goal was to ensure children felt safe and comfortable seeking help from law enforcement. He often passed around his badge and hat, letting the kids feel involved in his efforts. Charles also served as a "weekend warrior" in the U.S. Coast Guard, completing two weeks of active duty each summer at Camp Lejeune, SC.
Later, Charles transitioned into the insurance industry, joining Bankers Life Company, based in Des Moines, IA. After proving his leadership and achieving success, he was asked to take over the Bankers Life Agency in Atlanta, which was struggling at the time.
Charles met Wanda on a blind date, and the two quickly became inseparable. They married four years later, at the age of 24, and went on to have two sons, Christopher and Andrew. Chris and his wife Hollie have two children, Kinzi and Charlie, while Andy and his wife Allison have Austin and Shelby. Before moving to Atlanta in 1976, the Bardins were active members of the Forest Hills Presbyterian Church in Tampa, where Charles served as a deacon. After settling in Atlanta, they attended a Presbyterian Church for a few years until they met Dr. Malone Dodson, Senior Pastor at RUMC, and decided to join the church in 1978.
The history of the
RUMC Counseling Center
Charles had a vision for a counseling center on the RUMC campus, believing it would be a great asset to both the church and the surrounding community. He played a pivotal role in the creation and development of the counseling center, with the goal of offering accessible support to those in need. Charles was especially passionate about making counseling affordable for everyone.
Along with Evan Bergwell, the center would stand apart from others by offering affordable rates through the sliding scale, making it more accessible than most traditional counseling centers. As discussions progressed, key members of the church, including Malone Dodson and John Wolff, joined in to contribute ideas. Eventually, Evan was appointed as the director of the center.
Around the same time, RUMC was in the midst of a major building project to construct a new, larger sanctuary. Initially, the counseling center was housed in a small space within the youth house, later known as the scout hut. However, as the youth ministry needed the space for its activities, the counseling center was relocated. Fortunately, RUMC had recently acquired several homes on Pratt Street, including the Adams house, which became the new home for the counseling center’s offices.
Charles recognized the vital role the counseling ministry would play and became a driving force in its establishment. He underwrote the initial funding and chaired the board for the newly formed center. By this time, Charles had become one of the top agency managers at Bankers Life, now known as Principal Financial Group. Sadly, Charles passed away from melanoma cancer on April 17, 1985, at the age of 44, while the counseling center was still based in the Adams house. In his memory, memorial gifts were given to the Charles A. Bardin Memorial Fund, and the counseling center was officially dedicated on November 24, 1985.
As the congregation grew, more people began to take advantage of the counseling services, and the need for more space became apparent. In preparation for the new sanctuary, two houses on campus were moved to a more private location at the southwest corner of the property. These two homes were joined together and renovated to accommodate the growing needs of the counseling center, including the addition of a basement.
In 1988, the counseling center staff officially moved into their new, permanent space. The center was dedicated in Charles’s memory on November 26, 1989.
Read the full history of the RUMC Counseling Center. CLICK ON IMAGE
A portrait of Charles Bardin hangs in the common area a the Counseling Center. The artist, Wayne Patchell, and his wife were active RUMC members, and Mr. Bardin, who taught their Sunday School Class, touched their lives. It was important to Mr. Patchell that he contribute to the memorial using his creative talents.
The center offers support in areas such as marriage and family counseling, drug abuse recovery, divorce, grief, and individual and career guidance.
