Charles F. McAfee was born December 25, 1932. He received a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Nebraska in 1958. In 1963, McAfee began Charles F. McAfee Architects-Engineers-Planners in Wichita, Kansas; over time the firm grew and opened offices in Dallas, Texas and Atlanta, Georgia. He designed a variety of projects, from residences to educational buildings and transit to planning projects. McAfee won numerous design awards including the Kansas Chapter of the American Institutes of Architects (AIA) award, the Central States Regional AIA award, and one of seven National Awards from the Federal Housing Administration. He guest lectured at many universities, including: Kansas State, Nebraska, Kansas, Tuskegee, and Southern Universities, and served on various award juries, including the Honor Awards Jury and the Jury on Institute Honors for the AIA.

McAfee participated in a variety of community organizations, including: Kappa Alpha Psi, the Wichita Chamber of Commerce (where he served on the Board of Directors and as Vice President), the Wichita Urban League (where he was president), and the YWCA (where he was an Advisory Board member). He also worked as campaign chairman for Wichita's first African American Mayor, A. Price Woodward.

McAfee married Gloria and the couple had three children: Cheryl, Charyl, and Pamela.