Charlie Otis Sennett Jr.

Dr. Charlie Otis Sennett, Junior or “Soc” as he was affectionately called by those close to and friends with him, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 25th, surrounded by family and those who loved him dearly.

Soc was born in West Point, Mississippi, the oldest child of Charlie Otis Sennett, Senior and Mary Martha (York) Sennett. Even as a very young man, he knew that he wanted to pursue a career in medicine. Soc earned his pre-med undergraduate degree Phi Beta Kappa, in just three years, at Mississippi State University, while supporting himself with part-time jobs on campus. In 1955, he was accepted into the inaugural class of the newly established University of Mississippi Medical School in Jackson, MS. While there, in 1958, Soc married his childhood sweetheart from Grenada, MS, Barbara Ann Vance. Following med school, Soc joined the Navy and completed his residency, developing a keen interest in the cause of diseases and decided to specialize in Pathology. Following 10 years of distinguished service, including as the Chief Pathologist at Bethesda Naval Hospital, where his substantial duties included personally caring for President Johnson, Soc moved his family to Rome in 1969.

In Rome, Soc became an esteemed and accomplished member of both the medical and business communities. He served with great distinction as the Chief of Staff of the Pathology Department of Floyd Medical Center and as the State of Georgia Chief Medical Examiner for Floyd and the surrounding counties. He founded three wildly successful businesses serving Northwest Georgia and Northeast Alabama: Bio-Tech, Inc. (a medical equipment company), Southeastern Pathology, Inc. (a full-service pathology laboratory), and Coosa Valley Home Health. He also served as a Director for First Floyd (later Regions Bank) in Rome.

Soc was respected, if not revered, for the depth and application of his medical knowledge, which he readily shared with anyone for whom it might be of help. He was devoted to the care of patients, whose welfare was his priority for the full balance of his medical career.

Soc was an enthusiastic and perpetual student of everything and everyone he came in contact with. He was always interested in the story of the person next to him, what they did, and why and how they became able to do it.

He loved the wonder of creation, being in and living through it with such enthusiasm that he was never bored, but always amazed, by the world around him. Those who had the pleasure of enjoying one of his gardens could witness the passion and care he put into planting, growing, and making an outdoor space into something beautiful.

More than anything, Soc Sennett was a gracious, irrepressibly positive leader, professionally and at home. He was wholly devoted to his family, for whom he was a constant, reliable, and patient guide and counselor.

Soc is survived by the family he adored including his loving wife of 68 years, Barbara Vance Sennett, his children: Stacy Sennett Peek and her husband, Julius Winfrey Peek, II of Cedartown; Gilbert "Brett" Sennett and his wife, Elizabeth, of Atlanta; Micheal Sennett and his wife, Diana, of Amarillo, TX; his brother, Ronald Sennett and his wife, Joy, of Brandon, MS; his sister, Susan Jones, of Jacksonville, FL; his grandchildren: Eva Harbin Peek, Julius Winfrey Peek, III and his wife, Callee Anne Peek, Suzannah Sennett Peek, Davis Peek and his wife, Brittany West Peek, Charles "Chad" Sennett, Lillie Sennett, Turner Sennett, and Mason Sennett; his great-grandchildren: June Peek, Silas Peek, and Reilly Peek; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Mary "Toonie" McGaughy, and his son, Charles Otis "Chuck" Sennett, III.

A celebration of Soc's wonderful life will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers the family respectfully requests that memorial contributions be made to the Mentone Arts Center at P.O. Box 515, Mentone, Alabama, 35984 or Little River Arts Council Arts Collective at P.O. Box 370 Mentone, Alabama, 35984.

Messages of condolence can be made to the family by visiting our website and signing the online guestbook.

The staff of Daniel’s Funeral Home is honored to be entrusted with the care and services for Dr. Charlie Otis “Soc” Sennett, Junior.