Born in Charlotte on October 9, 1943, Charlie was the daughter of the late Royal Tatum Scroggs and Mary Alice (Laughridge) Scroggs.
Charlie graduated from North Mecklenburg High School in 1962. She attended Appalachian State Teacher’s College in Boone, North Carolina. The college mistakenly assigned her to an all-male dormitory, resulting in a lot of laughs and an article in the school newspaper titled “Charlie’s Quite a Gal!” She was an accomplished artist and pianist. She also had a big heart and a wicked sense of humor.
After teaching school in Charleston and Miami, Charlie began a career in the insurance business, which led her to her husband, Walt. On July 14, 1979, Charlie married Walter Reuben Etheridge in Charlotte. Over the years, they moved together across North Carolina, with stops in Charlotte, Carolina Beach, Mooresville, Salisbury (where Charlie worked in risk management at Food Lion), and Lake Waccamaw. They also spent several years in Conyers, Georgia. Walt and Charlie were married for 43 years until Walt passed away on August 4, 2022.
Charlie was very proud of her two sons, Lt. Cmdr. Richard Hathaway of Sanger, Texas, and Walter Dustin Etheridge of Brooklyn, New York. She loved her two daughters-in-law, Rachel Hathaway and Kristy Etheridge, and took great joy in her three grandchildren: Nate Hathaway, Noah Etheridge, and Olivia Etheridge.
Charlie has now been reunited with her beloved sister, Mary Ann (Scroggs) Brooks, better known as Deedee. Charlie is survived by her older brother, John Scroggs, whom she adored, along with her nieces and nephews.
At one time, Charlie and Walt were members of First Presbyterian Church in Mooresville as well as Lake Waccamaw Presbyterian Church. Charlie’s family takes comfort in trusting that she is now healed and celebrating with Jesus.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, August 13, 2026 at McEwen Funerals & Cremations at Forest Lawn West, 4601 Freedom Drive, Charlotte, NC. A graveside service will be held at the same location in Forest Lawn West Cemetery at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 14, 2026.
Gifts in Charlie’s honor can be made to the Cancer Research Institute (https://www.cancerresearch.org/) or to the ASPCA (https://www.aspca.org/
Condolences may be submitted at www.forestlawnwest.com
