J Charles Fletcher

He passed away due to heart failure on Friday, November 26, 2021.

Charles grew up in Memphis, Tennessee and later graduated from Central High School in 1945. He was drafted into the army and served 18 months. Upon his discharge in December 1946, he returned to Memphis and married his high school sweetheart, Helen Louise McClean, on June 14, 1948. They had three children, John Charles Jr., Linda Louise and Rebecca Marie.

He moved his family to Jackson in 1952 and joined First Presbyterian Church where he served as president of the men’s Brotherhood Class for five years.

He was a member of the Jackson Yacht Club and enjoyed sailing his Snipe boat. He enjoyed the sailing and fellowship shared with his best friend Harley Hopkins.

Charles enjoyed working in his yard and maintaining his home. His vocation was radio station management. After working for other stations, he took great pride when he and son John put WLIN on the air, the first stand along FM offering stereo Beautiful Music. We were fortunate to get the call letters WLIN to honor our daughter/sister Linda, who died of heart failure in her sophomore year at Ole Miss.

None of this compares to the pride he had in his family, sixteen members and hopefully growing. All beautiful, loving, thoughtful, generous children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Charles is survived by his wife, Helen; two children, John Charles Jr. (Sally) and Becky McFarland (Cam); granddaughter, Whitney Fletcher (Martin Quick) of Madison, MS and their sons, Fletcher and Leo; grandson, Joshua McFarland (Meagan) of McMinnville, OR; grandson, Matthew McFarland (Christen) of Ocala, FL and their daughters Sydney and Charlotte; grandson, Christopher McFarland (Tracy) of Salt Lake City, UT; his brother-in-law, Porter McClean of Tallahassee, FL; and several nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Milton and Marie Fletcher; daughter, Linda Louise Fletcher; granddaughter, McClean Fletcher; and sister, Martha Jane Reed.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to The McClean Fletcher Grief Center for Children, 12 Northtown Dr. Jackson, MS 39211 or to French Camp Academy, One Fine Place, French Camp, MS 39745.