Charles R. Mullen

Charles Rutledge Mullen 71, died Saturday June 7, 2014 at St. Dominic Hospital surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be 1:30pm Tuesday June 10, 2014 at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home in Ridgeland, preceded by visitation at 11:00am. Burial will follow in Odd Fellows Cemetery in Lexington, MS.

Mr. Mullen was born in Paducah, KY on January 24, 1943, to Henry and Bamadell Mullen. He grew up in Lexington, MS and graduated from Lexington High School. He earned a BS degree in accounting from Mississippi State University and a Master of Business Administration from Mississippi College. While working for the Department of Defense Contract Audit Agency, a chance audit assignment led him to a job offer at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He would only accept an eighteen month contract but stayed for 43 years rising through the ranks to lead the institution's accounting and reporting efforts for the last 20 years as comptroller.

While at UMMC he served on the center's Insurance Committee and Student Housing Committee. He was a member of the Mississippi Federal Credit Union's Supervisory Committee and, at his death, was the senior member of the credit union's Board of Directors serving the board as secretary and treasurer at various times.

Among his professional organizations are National Association of College University Business Officers National Association of Accountants, National Association of College and University Research Administrators, American Association of Medical College Administrators. In his spare time he owned and operated a large tree farm and was an active member of the Mississippi Forestry Association. An avid sports fan, he loved watching and cheering for the Ole Miss Rebels, except of course when they were in a dog fight with the Mississippi State Bulldogs, his first love.

In 2006, Charles met Cecilia Smith McRae and the two became an inseparable, perfect match, marrying three years later. They spent their too few years together traveling the world, enjoying days in the country at the farm in Lexington, watching with pride and joy the growth and achievements of their eleven grandchildren.

In addition to his wife, Cecilia, he is survived by his twins, Ashley Huggins (Mike) of Oxford, MS and Chad Mullen (Owen) of Madison, MS and his step-daughter Rebecca Langston (Shane) of Jackson and Southlake, TX; grandchildren are Ava and Cole Mullen of Madison, MS, Lyla and Hayes Huggins of Oxford, Jaqe Johnson of Auburn, AL and Southlake, TX, Mackenzie, Gabrielle, Shane Aubrey and Connor Langston of Southlake, TX, Cody Langston of Flora, MS and Jackie Langston of Pearl, MS; and his brother Randolph Mullen of Brandon, MS.

In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to First Baptist Church of Lexington or the University Of Mississippi Medical Center's Blair E. Batson Children's Hospital.