Charlene Waybright is a native of Roanoke.  She was raised in Roanoke County and graduated from William Byrd High School.  She earned an Associate's Degree through Virginia Western Community College.  She transferred to Roanoke College and graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Biology.  She minored in Chemistry with a concentration in Environmental Science.  Charlene continued her education with the Carilion Medical Center for Clinical Laboratory Science and is certified with the National Credentialing Agency for laboratory personnel and with the American Society for Clinical Pathology.  She is employed by Carilion Labs as a clinical laboratory scientist.  Charlene served two terms as President of the Virginia Society of Clinical Laboratory Science.

Charlene has two children: Danielle, age 21, and Garrett, age 19.  She is married to Simon Adkins.