MERIDIAN —     Editor's note: The following are comments readers posted at meridianstar.com. To add your comment, click on the story and find "add comment".



'We love you'



    I went to school with Carl's son, Frankie. I now attend Church with him and his wife, Laura. Mr. Carl married a dear friend of our family. They had a group called TLC, which meant tender loving care, and the letters came from, Thelma, Lynette and Carl. Recently, I have gone through a serious depression, and it wouldn't be good for me to attend the funeral, at this time. My 85-year old Mom, Mrs. Eloise Burke, known as Grannie, sends her love to Thelma, Lynette, Frankie and Laura.

    We love you all.



Lu-Lu



Hillbilly music in heaven



    My dad would sometimes speak of the times when you played in what he called a 'Hillbilly' band with Carl, Danny Holloway and Slim Burns way back around the time of WWII. If my memory is correct, he said the band was call 'Slim Burns and the Blue Sky Cowboys.'

    Not sure but I believe Carl may have been one of the last members of the group to survive.

    I'm sure there's some hillbilly music being heard in the heavens tonight.



Danny Laney



My Carl Fitzgerald story



    I first met Carl in 1967, shortly after I moved to Meridian. For the next 18 years, as I worked at a couple of TV stations there, our paths continued to cross many times. Carl was an early pioneer in radio. Having a background in radio myself, I naturally tended to make friends in the business. You find all sorts of folks in the broadcasting industry, but Carl was a very special man. My 'Carl Fitzgerald Story' involved the night, many years ago, when I showed him the Amway business. Carl was a much younger man then, and he got so excited over the possibilities he saw in the business plan that he went to the hospital later that night complaining of chest pains! That was typical of Carl. He always threw himself into any activity 110 percent. Carl was one in a million and he will be truly missed by everyone of us privileged to have known him.



Mike Golden



Fitzgerald: an encyclopedia

of knowledge



    Carl Fitzgerald was one of the most influential people in helping me determine to pursue a musical career. We were first introduced to one another approximately 14 years ago at one of the TISBA meetings during the Jimmie Rodgers Festival ... this was truly Carl's element. The man was like a walking Britannica of knowledge when it came to country music's history/roots/songwriters/etc. You name it, he knew it.    

    To say the least I should have been intimidated by this, but instead I found him taking me under his wing all the while leading me to the front of the crowd. He graciously offered to be my accompaniment and asked what song would I be singing. At that particular moment I couldn't think of anything except for a wonderful old gospel hymn 'In The Garden'. Being the greenhorn I was he had to take a moment to figure out what key I did it in too. That experience will be forever etched into my memory and my heart. As small as this may seem to others, it was a defining moment for me and for a friendship that would blossom between us and our families. There are so many more experiences that were shared throughout the following years, but this one, this will be the one I'll always treasure the most. When I received the word that Carl Fitzgerald had passed away, I experienced something that nobody could ever accuse Carl of ... I was at a loss for words.



Angela White



Sad loss for Meridian



    Really sad news here. Carl Fitzgerald is one of just a few men I've known that never strayed, never changed, one part of his mind set. He was the same Carl yesterday as he was fifty years ago when I first met him. He was giving Ronnie Hudnall a guitar lesson. I'm honored to be a Pallbearer for Carl ... last thing I can do for him. He done his part for all of us.

    As a side note, Carl had the prettiest right hand motion playing rhythm guitar, fascinated me ... wish I could get mine to be that smooth.



Raymond Huffmaster



A special man, leader



    I am so sorry to hear of the passing of Mr. Carl. I can say that God has called an angel to heaven to sit next to Him. Mr. Carl wrote a very special song for me, it was named MY HERO it was a song written for our son, Johnathan Mars. What a great leader he was and loved the world as he knew it.



 Robin Mars



I'll always 'remember when'

I met Carl



    I had the honor and privilege to meet Mr. Carl once about a year or so ago. I had a very interesting and enjoyable conversation with him about a topic he and I both loved, music. The knowledge and experiences that man had was remarkable. He could recall things that happened years ago like they were yesterday. I hated when our conversation had to end.

    I could have spent hours or even days talking with him. If you ever crossed paths with Mr. Carl, you enjoyed the meeting. I know I did. Our area has lost a wonderful man that had treasured experiences in his life and shared those with his radio audience and those he met. His radio show was called 'Remember When' and I know I will always 'remember when' I met Mr. Carl.



Doug



Until we meet again



    I just heard today about Mr Carl Fitzgerald. He was a great friend. We will miss him very much. We will one day we will see him again, what an awesome day that will be. My prayers are with the family and friends. May GOD be with you all.

    GOD heals all things. JESUS loves you and so do I.



Grace Alexander



Carl will be missed



    I have worked with Carl in the past on ads for his 'Remember When' radio program. He and Thelma were a precious couple. I remember when he interviewed my family for a program he did on mine and my dad's kidney transplant. I was nervous, he made it comfortable and easy. He had done that a few thousand times, so he was great at it. He and Thelma gave me one of their music cd's. We were friends. He knew something about everything and everyone it seemed. I'll miss him.



Elizabeth Ryan