Charlie Cannon passed away peacefully with his family beside him on February 17. We rejoice in knowing he is with his Lord and Savior and his body is whole. There is no more pain and suffering and he is where we were all made to live forever.
Charlie joins in heaven his parents Julia Bell Witt Cannon and Charles Grady Cannon, Sr. and one sister, Mary Patricia Cannon.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Ruth Keller Early Cannon, and 3 children Windsor Fall Cannon Mikos and her husband Paul, Julia Witt Cannon Crichton and her husband Charley, and Grady Early Cannon and his wife Brenda. He adored his 6 grandchildren more than life: Charles Worthington Crichton, Jr. (Worth), John Early Crichton, Caroline Evans Mikos, Anastasia Ruth Mikos, Kay Livingston Cannon and Witt Early Cannon.
He is also survived by his South Carolina family: Sister Martha Cannon Strickland, niece Judith Elaine Strickland, brother Franklin Witt Cannon and his wife Penny, niece Blake Cannon Rogers and her husband Pat, nephew Jesse Witt Cannon and his wife Elizabeth and great niece Elizabeth Blake Cannon.
Charlie was born in Orangeburg County and spent most of his youth growing up in the small town of North, South Carolina where he attended North High School. He graduated from Furman University and The Medical College of South Carolina in Charleston where he was inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.
Charlie completed his pediatric internship at Harriet Lane Clinic at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center. His first year of residency was spent at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. It was during that year he met a cute girl on a blind date named Ruth Early. They married and returned to Johns Hopkins to complete his residency.
During the Vietnam War, Charlie served his country in the U.S. Army Medical Corps as Chief of Pediatrics at Martin Army Hospital in Fort Benning, Georgia. Upon completion of his military service, he took his family to Columbia, SC to go into Pediatric private practice for 5 years. Later Charlie and his family returned to Nashville and he completed an anesthesia residency at VUMC. He practiced anesthesia for over 25 years with Middle Tennessee Anesthesia now known as Anesthesia Medical Group. He served as president of the Tennessee Society of Anesthesiologists. He also served on the boards of Young Life and Youth for Christ.
After retiring, Charlie served as a volunteer doctor at Nashville Rescue Mission and Siloam Health Center. He loved children and enjoyed teaching Sunday School at Belmont Church. He tutored children after school at Carter Lawrence Elementary School and the Salvation Army Magness Potter Community Center.
Charlie enjoyed being outside (the hotter, the better!), landscaping his beautiful yard and riding his bike for hours on The Natchez Trace. He participated many years in the Multiple Sclerosis fundraiser Bike to Jack and Back. Charlie and Ruth enjoyed traveling all over the world with Hawaii, Sydney and London being some of his favorite places.
After his stroke in 2006, his faithful caretaker and great friend, Donnie Greene, came every single morning-including holidays-unless he was out of town. The family wishes to thank Donnie for his friendship and faithfulness to Charlie as well as helping our family at any moment we need him. We consider Donnie a family member.
The family also wishes to thank all of the caregivers, nurses and social workers at Richland Place Health Center for their loving and constant attention. In lieu of flowers, Charlie’s desire was to have donations made to the Nashville Rescue Mission, 639 Lafayette St., Nashville, TN 37203 or Red Cloud Indian School, 100 Mission Drive, Pine Ridge, South Dakota 57770. A celebration of Charlie Cannon’s life will be held Monday, February 22 at 2:00pm at Belmont Church, 68 Music Square East, 37203. Visitation with the family is from 12:30-1:45 prior to the service.
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