He was honored by the Standing Bear Award presented to him for his work on behalf of the Virginia Indian community.

He was the founding chairman of the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program (VASAP) and he received its Distinguished Service Award in 2000.

He was also involved in commercial, retail, and residential real estate development; the creation of several finance companies and two local banks which eventually became part of Wachovia; and farming.

Marks was a veteran of World War II and had served as a captain in the United States Marine Corps.

[3] In 1998 the Charles Hardaway Marks Bridges spanning the Appomattox River between Hopewell and Chesterfield were named in his honor.