Left in charge of first of obituary columns (7)
I believe the answer is:
portico
'columns' is the definition.
'left in charge of first of obituary' is the wordplay.
'left' becomes 'port' (left side of a ship - opposite of starboard).
'in charge of' becomes 'ic'.
'first of' indicates taking the first letters.
The initial letter of 'obituary' is 'o'.
'port'+'ic'+'o'='PORTICO'
(Other definitions for portico that I've seen before include "Porch-like structure with columns" , "Classical porch" , "building construction" , "Covered walkway" , "covered area" .)