MERIDIAN, Miss. (WTOK) – Charles Young Junior represented Mississippi’s 82nd district since 2012, and on December 18, he passed away at the age of 62.
Hundreds of people gathered Tuesday to celebrate his life. There were songs, poems, and resolutions presented in honor of who his family called Chuck.
There were many sad people, but rather than crying. People were laughing, applauding, and praising God for the life Charles lived. People remembered the life he led as a public servant, and people spoke about the life he lived and the good times they had with one of East Mississippi’s longtime leaders.
“One night, we left Gulfport, had to be10:30 at night from a game and Chuck said man, ain’t nothing Open but fast food. We are going to eat in, Laurel. I said, if nothing’s open on the coast, what’s open in Laurel? Don’t worry about it. We pull up at somebody’s house. Full meal at midnight. That’s just Chuck,” said Supervisor Craig Houston.
While in office Charles was revered for his public service and his want to serve the people he represented. But, between his colleagues in the legislature there was one thing he was known for the most.
“We called him the information guy. He was the 411, the Yellow Pages, the White Pages, the Rolodex, and, in today’s terms, Google. Because if you wanted to know anybody in the state, all you had to do was make one call, that’s all to Charles Young Jr,” said Rep. Oscar Denton.
Chuck left an impact on many peoples lives throughout his adulthood, but before then he was leaving lasting memories with his childhood friends.
“Every monumental moment of childhood, it seems like I spent with Chuck. We were in kindergarten together. Elementary school together. We learn to ride, ride bikes together. We learned to swim together. We went to Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. We had our first jobs together. It just seemed like everywhere I went Chuck was a part of my life. Please don’t tell my parents this, but Chuck, even taught me how to drive. Well before the legal age,” said MHS Class President of 1980 Gordon Greenwood.
After all the speeches, resolutions, and funny memories shared, his sister, Judge Veldore Young Graham, took the stage and led the congregation in song. Singing the hymn “It Is Well.”
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