MY NAME IS CHARLES DON FLORES, AND I WAS CONVICTED AND SENTENCED TO DEATH UNDER THE LAW-OF-PARTIES FOR A CRIME THAT I AM INNOCENT OF. THE ONLY WITNESS THAT THE GOVERNMENT CALLED TO TESTIFY WAS HYPNOTISED, JUST ONE OF THE MANY SUGGESTIVE IDENTIFICATION PROCEDURES THE POLICE SUBJECTED THIS PERSON TO. THIS RESULTED IN ME BEING WRONGFULLY CONVICTED BECAUSE OF EYE-WITNESS MISIDENTIFICATION. BUT THAT IS NOT THE STORY I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU.
THE STORY I WANT TO SHARE BEGINS ON APRIL 1, 1999, THE DAY I WAS SENT TO TEXAS DEATH ROW AND PUT IN SOLITARY CONFINEMENT FOR TWENTY-FOUR YEARS STRAIGHT. FROM THAT TIME UNTIL NOW, THIS CELL HAS BEN THE FIRE AND FORGE, THAT HAS, AT TIMES THREATENED TO ROB ME OF MY SANITY AND ALSO TAUGHT ME SOME OF LIFE’S MOST IMPORTANT LESSONS. THIS HAS NOT BEEN AN EASY JOURNEY. FOR TWO DECADES WAS A DARK PLACE, FULL OF SUFFERING AND DESPAIR, A PLACE THAT WAS ABSENT OF HOPE. DEATH ROW IS WHERE ALL MY FRIENDS ARE LED AWAY LIKE LAMBS TO SLAUGHTER AND PUSHED OUT OF EXISTANCE BY LETHAL INJECTION.
IT IS IN THESE TWO DECADES THAT I HAVE COME TO FIND THAT I POSSESS IMMENSE STRENGTH OF SOUL AND THIS STRENGTH IS WHAT HAS SEEN ME THROUGH TO THIS DAY. SINCE I WAS FIRST ARRESTED FOR A CRIME THAT I DID NOT COMMIT, IT SEEMED THAT I HAVE BEEN DEALTH A CONTINUAL LOSING HAND. AND EVEN THOUGH I HAD THIS LOSING HAND, I WAS DETERMINED TO PLAY IT OUT IN SUCH A WAY THAT SOMEHOW, SOMEWAY I WOULD COME OUT A WINNER. IN TRYING TO REACH THIS ULTIMATE GOAL I HAVE USED ALL MY WITS, GIFTS AND TALENTS TO TELL MY STORY OF INNOCENCE, TO FIND COMPASSIONATE SOULS WHO WOULD SUPPORT ME AND AWESOME APPEAL ATTORNEYS WHO HAVE FOUGHT TOOTH AND NAIL TO PREVENT THE GOVERNMENT FROM EXECUTING ME FOR A CRIME I DID NOT COMMIT. FOR REASONS THAT ONLY GOD KNOWS, I HAVE BEEN PUSHED TO THE BRINK AND THE FOLLOWING IS A TALE OF HOW THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY HAS MOVED ON TEXAS DEATH ROW AND ABOUT THE CONTINUING MARICLE THAT CONTINUES TO MANIFEST IN MY LIFE.
ON DECEMBER 7, 2021, THE TEXAS DEATH ROW FAITH BASED PROGRAM (FPB) BEGAN, AND I WAS SELECTED TO BE A PART OF THIS GROUND BREAKING CLASS. THIS WAS WHEN IT, “OFFICIALLY” BEGAN, BUT THE LORD STARTED ACTIVELY MANIFESTING HIS WILL IN MY LIFE IN EARLY OCTOBER 2021. ME AND A CLOSE FRIEND SUBMITTED OUR NAMES TO BE PART OF THE BEGINNING CLASS TO PARTAKE IN KAIROS AND THE FBP, AND TO BE HONEST, I WAS NOT THAT CRAZY ABOUT THE IDEA. IN RETROSPECT, I BELIEVE THIS RELUCTANCE TO TAKE THIS STEP COME FROM ME NOT WANTING TO RELEASE CONTROL OVER MY LIFE, AND PUT COMPLETE FAITH AND TRUST IN GOD AND FOCUS ON HIM. THE ORIGINAL NUMBER OF MEN ALLOWED TO TAKE PART IN KAIROS AND THE FBP WAS JUST 14, SO THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE PROGRAMS WAS VERY LIMITED. WELL, MY FRIEND WAS ACCEPTED INTO BOTH, AND I WAS NOT. SHORTLY AFTER HE WAS MOVED TO A-POD WHERE THESE PROGRAMS WOULD TAKE PLACE AND TWO WEEKS LATER KAIROS WAS HELD. KAIROS IS A TWO DAY FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM WITH BELIEVERS IN CHRIST JESUS WHO COME INSIDE THE PRISON AND WORSHIP WITH THE PRISONERS.
WHEN I WAS NOT ACCEPTED I WAS DISAPPOINTED, BECAUSE DEEP DOWN INSIDE OF ME, I KNEW I NEEDED THIS KIND OF RADICAL CHANGE. BUT WHAT COULD I DO? I ACTUALLY SAID ALOUD, “OKAY GOD, YOU DON’T WANT ME IN THIS FBP? FINE! I WILL STAY RIGHT HERE AND KEEP DOING MY THING.
THE THING IS, THE LORD WANTED ME IN THE FBP! KAIROS WAS SUCH A SUCCESS, THAT THE OFFICIALS IMMEDIATELY EXPANDED THE FBP TO TWENTY-EIGHT MEN. AND BECAUSE MU NAME HAD BEEN SUBMITTED BUT NOT SELECTED, I WAS AUTOMATICALLY IN LINE FOR ONE OF THESE ADDITIONAL SPORTS IN THE FBP. SO, OUT OF THE BLUE, THE GENERAL POPULATION PRISONERS WHO SERVE AS FIELD MINISTERS NAMED TERRY SOLLEY AND TROOP FOSTER APPEARED AT MY DOOR ANS ASKED ME IF I STILL MANTED TO BE IN THE FPB?
THIS WAS TOTALLY UNEXPECTED AND PUT ME ON THE SPOT. DID I, OR DID I NOT WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FBP? IN THAT MOMENT, I KNEW IT WAS NO COINCIDENCE, THAT GOD WAS MOVING IN MY LIFE, AND IF I SAID YES I WAS COMMITTING MYSELF ONE HUNDRED PERCENT AND WOULD BEGIN TO ALLOW GOD’S PLAN TO MANIFEST IN MY LIFE AND HAVE TO LET GO OF THE WHEEL, AND LET THE LORD DRIVE! AFTER A BRIEF PAUSE, I RESPONDED THAT YES, I STILL WANTED TO BE IN THE FBP. THESE BROTHERS SAID OKAY, WE WILL BE BACK AND LEFT.
WHEN TROOP AND SOLLEY WALKED OUT OF MY HOUSING SECTION, I SAT DOWN ON MY BUNK AND IN THAT MOMENT I KNEW THAT I HAD MADE A LIFE CHANGING DECISION. I JUST KNEW IT, I FELT THIS ABSOLUTE DEEP TRUTH DEEP DOWN INSIDE OF ME. AND HAVING TAKEN THE FIRST STEP, I TOOK THE NEXT STEP. I BEGAN TO TALK TO GOD AND HAD THE MOST SINCERE CONVERSATION WITH HIM THAT I CAN REMEMBER HAVING IN A LONG TIME. I PRAYED AND SAID, “LORD, FOR THE PAST TWENTY YEARS, I HAVE BEEN IN CONTROL OF MY LIFE, MAKING ALL THESE DECISIONA AND LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT WHERE I HAVE GOTTEN MYSELF WITH ME DRIVING! LOSS AFTER LOSS,HEARTACHE AFTER HEARTACHE, TRAUAMATIC EVENT AFTER TRAUMATIC EVENT. I HAVE HAD ENOUGH LORD, YOU WANT ME YOU GOT ME. CLEAR THE PATH AND I WILL WALK IT, AND AS I AM WALKING WITH YOU, I WILL DO YOUR WILL. WHEREEVER YOU LEAD ME, IN WHATEVER YOU WANT ME TO DO, YOUR WILL BE DONE IN MY LIFE HEAVENLY FATHER, YOUR WILL BE DONE!”
AN HOUR LATER, TROOP AND SOLLEY WERE BACK AND LET ME KNOW I WOULD BE A PART OF THE FBP. A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER I WAS MOVED TO A-PO ALONG WITH THIRTEEN OTHER BROTHERS WHO MAKE UP THIS HOUSING SECTION OF THE FBP PARTICIPANTS. SINCE THEN GOD HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN MY LIFE. HE IS IN CONTROL AND I AM OVERJOYED AND GRATEFUL FOR THIS TO BE HAPPENING.
I WAS RAISED IN A CHRISTIAN HOME. MY PARENTS WERE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH AND I LEARNED TO SING IN THE CHURCH. AS I GOT OLDER I BEGAN TO EXPERIMENT WITH THINGS I SHOULD NOT, AND FELL AWAY FROM THE CHURCH.
WHEN WE WERE MOVED TO THIS HOUSING SECTION THE BROTHERS ALL AROUND ME DECIDED TO TAKE PART IN THE FBP FOR THE SAME REASON. LIKE ME, THEY FELT AN EMPTINESS IN THEIR LIVES AND A PULL TOWARDS SOMETHING BETTER. THEY WERE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING LIKE I WAS, THAT SOMETHING IS NAMED GOD.
WHEN THE OTHER HOUSING SECTION THAT IS IN THE FBP PARTICIPATED IN KAIROS THEY LEARNED TO SING AND WORSHIP TOGETHER, AND LONG AFTER KAIROS WAS OVER THESE BROTHERS CONTINUED TO COME TOGETHER AND WORSHIP DAILY. ABOUT TEN DAYS WENT BY AND ONE MORNING BROTHER ANDY TOOK THE INITIATIVE TO STEP OUT AND CALL EVERYONE TO THEIR CELL DOOR AND SHARED WITH ALL THE GUYS IN OUR HOUSING SECTION THAT WE SHOULD FOLLOW THE OTHER SECTION’S LEAD AND BEGIN TO FELLOWSHIP TOGETHER. IMMEDIATELY, ALL THE BROTHERS AGREED AND SINCE THAT DAY, BOTH SECTIONS OF THE FBP VOLUNTARLY COME TOGETHER FOR WORSHIP SERVICE.
OUR VOLUNTARY WORSHIP SERVICE CONSISTS OF OPENING PRAYER, THEN SINGING OF GOSPEL SONGS AND CHURCH HYMNS AND THEN WE SHARE MESSAGES, QUOTES, SCRIPTURES. OUR VOLUNTARY WORSHIP SERVICES HAVE EVOLVED AND CHANGED UP SOME BUT THE BASIC FORMAT HAS STAYED THE SAME AND WE COME TOGETHER AND HAVE THEM WHENEVER WE DO NOT HAVE ANY OTHER ACTIVITIES HAPPENING DURING THE DAY.
THE FBP WILL LAST FIFTEEN MONTHS AND WE WILL TAKE THE FOLLOWING CLASSES: BRIDGES TO LIFE, OVERCOMERS, THE TRUTH PROJECT, AUTHENTIC MANHOOD, ANGER MANAGEMENT, VOYAGERS AND BEYOND SUCCESS. THESE CLASSES ARE BEING TAUGHT BY THE FILED MINISTERS WHO COME ONTO THE HOUSING SECTIONS AND LEAD US THROUGH THEM ALL. EACH CLASS IS HELPFUL AND WILL BE BENIFICIAL TO OUR GROWTH AND MATURITY. ALL THE CLASSES GO FROM GOOD TO GREAT IF YOU PUT YOUR MAXIMUM EFFORT INTO THEM. I AM FOCUSSED ON GETTING THE MAXIMUM OUT OF EVERY ACTIVITY IN THE FBP.
DURING THIS TIME THAT WE HAVE BEEN IN THE FBP, I HAVE BEEN CHOSEN AS THE WORSHIP LEADER IN OUR SECTION. I TAKE MY DUTIES SERIOUSLY AND AM HONORED TO SERVE THE LORD AND MY BROTHERS IN THIS MANNER. IT IS A BLESSING TO US ALL AND OUR VOLUNTARY WORSHIP SERVICES ARE WHAT HAS MADE THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IN MY LIFE. SO I AM GRATEFUL TO BE PART OF THEM.
IN SEPTEMBER 2022, ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS AND FBP BROTHER GARY RAYNARD GREEN WAS GIVEN AN EXECUTION DATE FOR MARCH 7, 2023. FROM ONE DAY TO THE NEXT, GARY WAS TAKEN FROM OUR GROUP AND MOVED TO DEATH WATCH, WHERE THE MEN WITH ACTIVE EXECUTION DATES ARE HOUSED.
LIKE THE VAST MAJORITY OF MEN, GARY WAS ON TEXAS DEATH ROW FOR THE WORST DAY OF HIS LIFE. GARY WAS FROM DALLAS LIKE I WAS, SO WHEN I FIRST MET HIM WE HAD THIS IN COMMON. ONE DAY WE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO TO GO OUTSIDE FOR RECREATION TOGETHER. OUTSIDE RECREATION IS THE ONLY, “PRIVATE” SETTING WE HAVE HERE. WE ARE LOCKED IN SIDE BY SIDE OUTDOOR RECREATION YARDS AND NO ONE IS OUT THERE EXCEPT US.
THIS WAS WHEN I TRULY MET GARY GREEN. WE BEGAN TO CHAT AND I LIKED HIM RIGHT AWAY. HE WAS FUNNY, CHARISMATIC AND A GREAT STORY TELLER. HE HAD A DEEP BASS VOICE AND A GREAT LAUGH AND HE BEGAN TO TELL ME A STORY. IN THE BEGINNING I DID NOT KNOW WHERE THIS STORY MIGHT END UP. MOST TIMES GUYS TELL OLD WAR STORIES ABOUT ADVENTURES THEY HAD WHEN FREE. BUT GARY’S STORY WAS DIFFERENT. THE STORY HE TOLD ME WAS THE STORY OF THE SERIES OF EVENTS THAT LED TO HIM BEING SENT TO DEATH ROW. WHEN HE WAS DONE, I COULDN’T BELIEVE HE HAD THE COURAGE TO TELL ME THAT STORY, WHICH WAS THE ABSOLUTE WORST DAY OF HIS LIFE. I SAY HEHAD, “COURAGE” BECAUSE WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR YOU TO TELL SOMEONE YOU JUST MET YOUR DEEPEST, DARKEST, MOST TERRIBLE SECRET?
GARY TOLD ME HIS STORY TO LAY IT BEFORE US AND ALLOW ME TO DECIDE IF I WAS GOING TO BE HIS FRIEND, OR JUDGE HIM UNWORTHY OF FRIENDSHIP BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED ON THE WORST DAY OF HIS LIFE. I TRY VERY HARD NOT TO JUDGE ANYONE, I KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO BE JUDGED AND I WAS NOT GOING TO DO THAT TO HIM. FROM THAT DAY FORWARD, ME AND GARY WERE TRUE FRIENDS. HE PROVED TO BE A LOYAL, FAITHFUL FRIEND, AND A TRUE BROTHER FROM ANOTHER MOTHER. GARY WAS SOMEONE I COULD ALWAYS COUNT ON IN AN HOUR OF NEED.
WHEN WE ALL WERE MOVED TO THIS FBP SECTION, GARY WAS BUDDHIST. EVENSO, HE TOOK PART IN OUR WORSHIP SERVICES AS HE WAS RAISED IN A CHRISTIAN HOME. HE WAS PART OF OUR BROTHERHOOD, A VALUED MEMBER, ONE I COULD ALWAYS COUNT ON TO SING A SONG, SHARE A WORD OR LEAD A PRAYER. IT WAS HERE THAT GARY REDEDICATED HIS LIFE TO THE LORD AND WAS BAPTIZED HERE ON TEXAS DEATH ROW. I WAS HONORED AND OVERJOYED TO HAVE BEEN PART OF THAT GREAT EVENT IN HIS LIFE.
HIS BAPTISM WAS ATTENDED BY WARDEN DICKERSON AND THE UNIT CHAPLAIN. GARY’S FAVORITE WORSHIP SONG WAS, “WALK WITH ME LORD.” HE LOVED TO SING IT SLOW, GOSPEL STYLE FULL OF EMOTION THAT WOULD MAKE YOU FEEL IT DEEP IN YOUR SOUL. THE DAY HE WAS BAPTIZED, WHEN HE COME BACK TO OUR HOUSING SECTION SOAKING WET, WE ALL BEGAN TO SING TO HIM, “WALK WITH ME LORD! WALK WITH ME, WALK WITH ME LORD! WALK WITH ME, WHILE I’M ON THIS CHRISTIAN JOURNEY I WANT JESUS TO WALK WITH ME!” WHEN HE TURNED THE CORNER HE WAS SINGING AT THE TOP OF HIS LUNGS WITH US. WHAT A GLORIOUS DAY, HALLELUJAH! GARY WAS PART OF THE REVIVAL AND OUT POURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT IS CONTINUING HERE. THIS PLACE THAT WAS ONCE CALLED DEATH ROW IS NOW CALLED, “LIFE ROW” BECAUSE BROTHERS WHO WERE ONCE SPIRITUALLY DEAD ARE COMING TO LIFE IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
GARY LIVED HIS LAST SIX MONTHS OF HIS LIFE ON DEATH WATCH. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THAT DAYROOM A FEW TIMES AND TALK WITH HIM AND HE HAD HIS GOOD DAYS AND BAD DAYS. BEING TORN AWAY FROM OUR BROTHERHOOD, FROM BEING ABLE TO WORSHIP TOGETHER REALLY TOOK A TOLL ON HIM. ISOLATING GARY AFTER HE HAD FOUND HIS PLACE IN THE FBP WAS TORTURE FOR HIM. BUT HE DID THE BEST HE COULD AND SOMEHOW HELD IT TOGETHER.
ON MARCH 7, 2023, THE LAST DAY OF GARY’S LIFE, HE BEGAN SINGING AT 5AM. FROM HIS CELL ON DEATH WATCH WE HEARD HIS BOOMING VOICE, “WALK WITH ME LORD, WALK WITH ME.” AS HE SANG WE JOINED HIM FROM OUR SECTION. AFTER WE SANG HIS SONG GARY SAID, “THERE’S TOO MANY OF Y’ALL TO NAME INDIVIDUALLY, BUT EACH ONE OF YOU HAVE BEEN A TRUE BLESSING IN MY LIFE AND I HOPE I HAVE BEEN A BLESSING IN YOURS.” WE ALL EXPRESSED OUR LOVE FOR HIM AND TOLD HIM TO KEEP STRONG AND CONTINUE TO WALK WITH THE LORD.
I HAD MY BROTHER ON MY MIND WHEN THE ESCORT TEAM COME TO TAKE MY NEIGHBOR TO VISIT. ONE GUARD WAS A GUY I GET ALONG WELL WITH AND I ASKED HIM HOW WAS GARY WHEN HE LEFT FOR HUNTSVILLE AT NOON? HE TOLD ME THAT GARY WAS GOOD. HE WAS SINGING WHEN HE LEFT, “WALK WITH ME LORD, WALK WITH ME.” I WAS RELIEVED TO HEAR THAT GARY WAS ABLE TO GO TO HIS DEATH WITH SUCH A PEACE AND DIGNITY. BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY THAT SONG, “WALK WITH ME LORD”, WAS WHAT GAVE MY BROTHER THE STRENGTH TO WALK TO HIS DEATH.BY 7PM, MY CHRISTIAN BROTHER GARY RAYNARD GREEN WAS NO LONGER AMONG THE LIVING, HE HAD BEEN EXECUTED.
A FEW DAYS LATER , MY ATTORNEY GRETCHEN COME TO VISIT ME. SHE HAD KNOWN HOW DIFFICULT LOSING GARY WAS FOR ME AND HAD ASKED ME WHAT WAS HIS FAVORITE SONG. THAT WAS HER WAY OF ASKING ME TO SING IT TO HER. AT OUR VISIT WE ALK ABUOT MY STUFF THEN THE CONVERSATION TURNED T GARY. AS I SANG IT FOR HER IN THE VISITATION BOOTH, I CLOSED MY EYES AND THOUGHT ABUOT MY BROTHER, AND COULD SEE HIM HANDS HANDCUFFED BEHIND HIS BACK, WALKING OUT OF THE VISITATION ROOM DOWN THAT LONG COVERED WALK WAY WITH A FIVE MAN TEAM OF PRISON GUARDS DRESSED IN FULL RIOT GEAR AND A GAGGLE OF TDCJ OFFICALS TRAILING HIM. AS HE WALKED TO THE VAN THAT WOULD TAKE HIM TO HIS PLANNED EXECUTION HE SANG THAT SONG, “ WALK WITH ME LORD! WALK WITH ME, WALK WITH ME LORD! WALK WITH ME, WHILE I’M ON THIS CHRISTIAN JOURNEY, I WANT JESUS TO WALK WITH ME!”
I KNEW THAT SONG, THAT PRAISE TO THE ALMIGHTY WAS WHAT GAVE GARY THE STRENGTH TO WALK TO HIS DEATH. AFTER I SANG THAT SONG, I TOLD GRETCHEN ABOUT GARY SINGING THAT SONG AS HE LEFT AND I BECAME OVERWHELMED WITH EMOTION AND THE TEARS BEGAN TO FLOW. I COULD NOT CONTINUE, ALL I COULD SAY WAS THAT THE SITUATION WAS HARD. WHEN I OPENED MY EYES I SAW THAT SHE WAS ALSO TEARING UP. THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I CARE FOR HER SO MUCH. SHE HAS COMPASSION FOR US ALL NOT MATTER WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE DONE.
ME AND MY BROTHER GARY RAN FROM GOD FOR THIRTY YEARS. WE RAN AND RAN UNTIL WE COULD NOT RUN ANYMORE. THE LORD ALLOWED THE DEVIL TO WEAR US OUT UNTIL WE FINALLY HAD ENOUGH, HEARD HIS CALL AND GAVE OUR SITUATIONS TO HIM. SINCE WE SUBMITTED TO GOD’S WILL I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO HAPPY IN MY LIFE. GARY SAIDTHE SAME THING TO ME. AND I AM JUST THANKFUL THAT WE WERE ALLOWED TO LIVE AND EXPERIENCE THIS PART OF OUR LIVES.
LIFE ROW IS CHANGING PEOPLE LIKE NEVER BEFORE. IT HAS CHANGED ME AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR HAVING SEEN THE LIGHT. AND GARY RAYNARD GREEN ALSO SAW THE LIGHT, WAS A CHRISTIAN BROTHER AND HIS SALVATION IS SECURE. THE STEPS THAT WE BOTH TOOK HERE ON THE FBP ARE STEPS ON A JOURNEY THAT WILL LAST FOR AN ETERNITY. BROTHER GARY IS IN A BETTER PLACE NOW WITH THE LORD IN HEAVEN. AND I KNOW WHEN I GET THERE, I WILL HEAR HIM SINGING, “WALK WITH ME LORD! WALK WITH ME, WALK WITH ME LORD! WALK WITH ME!”
SOLI DEO GLORIA! - TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!
CHARLES DON FLORES NO: 00999299
TEXAS DEATH ROW
FAITH BASED PROGRAM
APRIL 16, 2023.
Polunsky Unit, Livingston, Texas
24 years in solitary / ad seg
Charles D.
FLORES
April 16, 2023
Words by CHARLES D. FLORES
Photography by TEXAS LETTERS
