Charles E. Spell

Charles Edward Spell, 92, formerly of Jackson, Mississippi, peacefully ascended to his heavenly reward on September 13, 2022. He is survived by his "Sweetest One" and devoted wife, Betty Jo (Moore) Spell. Their marriage has been a model of unconditional love for almost seventy (70!) years.

Charles was born to Ozella and Leslie Spell in Jackson, Mississippi on July 12, 1930. He graduated from Central High School in 1948 and served in the U.S. Air Force as a Radio Operator on a tiny island off the coast of Japan in the Korean War. Returning home in January of 1953, he turned friendship into romance, marrying his beloved Jo on June 6, 1953.

Their eventual family of five loved the outdoors, and spent many happy hours camping, hunting, fishing, and teaching all their family and friends how to water-ski! Their family life centered around Woodville Heights Baptist Church, where Charles served as a Deacon for many years and where lifelong friendships developed.

When he retired at 58 after thirty years with the U.S. Post Office, Charlie and Jo began their retirement adventures, traveling in their motorhome to 49 states and most of Canada, from the Arctic Circle to Mexico. Avid anglers, they spent spring and fall at their home on the Ross Barnett Reservoir catching (and frying!) white perch -- you've never eaten anything better!

After several years of “wintering” in Naples, Florida, Charlie and Jo spent 23 years as residents of Naples Land Yacht Harbor, making precious friendships that continue today. They spent the last four years of Charlie’s life sharing a multi-generational home with son-in-law and daughter, Steve and Pam (Spell) Walker; daughter Carol (Spell) Moss; and for a brief time granddaughter, Annie Mac'Kie and her husband Vincent Caldwell, his two favorite “roomies!”

Charles is survived by his beloved wife, Jo; by his daughter, Pam and her husband Steve Walker, their children Patrick and Fiona Walker of Winter Park, Florida, parents to his great-grandchildren Griffin, Liam and Rowan; Jack and Hannah Mac'Kie of Naples, Florida; and Annie Mac’Kie and Vincent Caldwell, parents to his great-granddaughter, Davina; but was sadly predeceased by his dear grandson, Jim Walker. He is survived by his son, Steve, and daughter-in-law, Stephanie, of Naples, Florida, and by their children, Jessica Guth, mother to his great-grandchildren, Morgan and Parker; Jacob and Chelsy Spell, parents of his great-granddaughter, Ari; and Megan Spell. Charles is also survived by his youngest child, daughter Carol Moss (whom he called “Karo”), and her son and daughter-in-law, Tucker and Tiffany Moss.

Charles was predeceased by his sister and brother-in-law, Leslie Rae and "Tite" Burney and their son, David Burney, but is survived by their son, Timothy C. Burney and wife Cathy Ermel, as well as by many nieces and nephews on the Moore side of his family in Mississippi.

A private family service is planned, when Charles' ashes will be spread in the garden outside his window, where he spent many happy hours feeding the birds and scaring off the squirrels with his BB gun!

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his honor at a charity of your choice.