Charles Richard Whitehead

Charles Richard Whitehead, 84, left his earthly home Tuesday, December 17, 2013 at the State Veterans Nursing Home Jackson MS to go meet many of his loved ones in heaven. Funeral services will be held at 11:00am Saturday, December 21, 2013 from the chapel of Wright & Ferguson Funeral Home Jackson MS. Visitation will be Friday from 5:00pm till 7:00pm and Saturday from 10:00am till 11:00am. Burial will be in the Natchez Trace Cemetery, Madison MS.

Charlie was born in Greenwood MS to Charles Keller (C.K.) Whitehead and Edna Pearl Kelley. He graduated from Central High School Jackson MS in 1948 where he was a regular for the Youth For Christ Ministries for over 10 years at the King Edward Hotel. After graduation, he did a stint in the Army, came home and graduated from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 1961. He spent over 40 years of his life in the funeral business in Greenwood MS, Newton MS, and finally retired from Wright & Ferguson on High Street.

He and his wife of 57 years, Laurel Whitehead, raised their children in Newton MS where he was a lay leader and Sunday school teacher at the First Methodist Protestant Church. In 1986, moved to Jackson Ms where he was a member of Word of Life until his health failed.  

Survivors include his wife Laurel Whitehead of Jackson MS, daughter Lynn Whitehead-Wyatt of Newton MS, sons, Clayton Whitehead of Raleigh NC and Arthur Whitehead of

Southaven MS, grandsons, Jay Wyatt and wife Bethany of Jackson MS, and Dustin Wyatt of Gonzales LA. ‘Sonny” had no siblings, but 1st cousins that were as close as siblings. Remaining cousins are, Jo Ann Dickson of Deland FL, Jean A Hawkins of Madison MS, James Kelley Williams Sr of Jackson Ms, Harriette Townsend Clark of Jackson MS, and Ramona Townsend Pogue of North Port AL. He is preceded in death by his parents C.K. and Edna Whitehead and a grandson, Shane August Wyatt.

Many thanks to the staff of  the VA Hospital and the Mississippi  State Veterans Nursing Home for all the care given during his illness.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any memorials be made to Gateway Rescue Missions, PO Box 3763, Jackson MS 39207. Chucks’s mother, Edna K. Whitehead was one of the co-founders of Gateway in 1950.

Rest in peace, you are out of pain. Many will miss you.