Charles Essex Shores Sr.

Charles Essex "Popeye" Shores, Sr. November 28, 1921- June 8,2013. Long time Jackson resident, Mr. Charles Essex "Popeye" Shores passed away at the G.V."Sonny" Montgomery VA Hospital on June 8, 2013. Mr. Shores is survived by his son Dr. Andy Shores of Starkville; grandchildren Dr. Lauren Shores (Little Elm, TX), Andy Shores (Auburn, AL),and Matthew Shores (Starkville); and a greatgranddaughter, Cameron Elizabeth Shores (Auburn, AL). His beloved wife Mary Nell Shores, his son Charles Essex Shores, [r., and all of his five siblings preceded him in death.

Mr. Shores was born in D'Lo, Mississippi to Dave and Callie Shores. The family moved to Jackson in the 1920s where he earned the nickname "Popeye." He excelled in sports at Central High School in Jackson and was revered by many as a high school football star. An editorial in the Jackson Clarion-Ledger once referred to the field at Tiger Stadium (now Newell Field) as "hallowed ground where Popeye Shores once ran." In 1942 he joined the U.S.Navy and served valiantly in the Pacific Theatre, on board the destroyer USSLofberg and as a machinist mate on landing craft boats, delivering U.S.Marines invading the islands of Guadalcanal, Bougainville, and others. After the end of World War II, Mr. Shores attended Hinds Junior College, where he resumed his prowess on the football field, earning All-Star and All-Conference honors both years. He is an inductee of the Hinds Junior College Athletic Hall of Fame. After graduation, he worked a short time at Borden's in Jackson as a refrigeration engineer before joining the City of Jackson Fire Department where he attained the rank of Captain over a distinguished career of 21 years. During his tenure with the Jackson Fire Department, during the tumultuous 1960s, Mr. Shores took a courageous step in those times and wrote the letter of recommendation for Jackson, Mississippi's first African-American police officer. He later told his son that he knew it was the right thing to do.

During his life in the Jackson area, Mr. Shores was a member of West Jackson Baptist Church and later Midway Baptist Church. He worked for Standard Stationers (now OffiSource) in Jackson after retiring from the Jackson Fire Department. Popeye Shores officiated Mississippi high school, junior college, and small college football for 50 years; baseball for 40 years; and amateur softball for 55 years. He and his wife raised two sons and worked tirelessly to ensure they had a college education.

Visitation will be 5:00pm till 7:00pm Wednesday evening and 1:00pm till 2:00pm Thursday. Funeral services will be held at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home on High Street in Jackson on Thursday at 2:00pm with internment at Cedar-Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for contributions in his name to St.Andrew's Episcopal School Athletic Department or the Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine Development Foundation.