As Meridian prepares for the homegoing of one of its favorite sons, family members and friends continue to remember the Hon. Charles L. Young Sr.

Young died Wednesday morning at Rush Foundation Hospital after suffering a massive heart attack while undergoing physical therapy.

“He was my brother and my friend,” said Meridian attorney William “Bill” Ready, whose friendship with Young developed when the two men were children.

“Our daddies were friends; my daddy was his daddy and mama’s CPA (certified public accountant),” said Ready. “Charles and I grew up together; he was a closer brother than my real brother.”

Ready said the only “complaint” he had with Young came about when the two played cowboys and indians.

“Charles Young was bigger and a year older than me … He used to make me be the damn indian. We would argue over these things, and I never won the fight,” Ready said.

After the two men graduated from college and returned home, they worked together during the civil rights movement.

“He and I were the original members of the R.S. Porter Group that met at First Union Baptist Church,” he said.

Ready said what Young did for his community and his family was what he was supposed to do.

“That’s the way we were raised by both our parents,” he said. “He will be greatly missed.”

The longtime Meridian businessman and statesman was revered by his first cousin Billy Beal as a servant leader in the community.

“He was very, very involved in all aspects – political, social, religious and civic,” Beal said.

Young’s commitment to family also were acknowledged by Beal.

“I had dinner with him on Easter Sunday and the most concern he was expressing was worry about family members – almost as if he was saying, ‘I know I’m going soon and I’m concerned,” he said. “Charles was very much a family man; he loved his family.”

Beal advised local residents who want to pay homage to Young to vote for the candidate of their choice in Tuesday’s primary election.

“He would want that,” he said.

And, to lend their support to the institutions Young believed in, such as Head Start, Greater Meridian Health Center, Multi-County Community Service Agency, Meridian Community College and other programs and causes he was dedicated to.

“He worked very hard to see that the community had access to service and he was very committed to education,” Beal said. “That was his legacy, and support from the community would make sure that his legacy continues.”

Meridian businessman Abdul Lala credits Young with transforming him from a chemist into a businessman.

“He was like a father to me. What I am today, it is because of him,” said LaLa, who serves as vice president and chief chemist of Young’s family-owned business E.F. Young Manufacturing Co.

Lala said for the last 30 years, he started his work day by meeting with Young.

“Every morning we would talk for 30-45 minutes – discussing the business, politics, the community and then personal matters,” he said. “I was close to him; he was a great man and had a big influence on me. Just being with him so many time, I learned a lot from him.”

Abdul said his kids began to cry upon learning of Young’s passing.

“They were very close to him, also. He was their godfather,” he said.

LaLa described Young’s passing as a loss that cannot be fulfilled.

“He will be greatly missed, indeed,” he said.



Events for Charles L. Young Sr.:



• Monday: The body of the Hon. Charles L. Young Sr. will lie in state from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. at the MSU Riley Center, downtown Meridian. A community memorial service will begin at 11 a.m.

• Tuesday: The Young family requests that citizens of Meridian remember Charles L. Young Sr. by voting for the candidate of their choice.

• Wednesday: Funeral services will begin at 10 a.m. at Newell Chapel CME Church, 1400 13th Ave.

  Being a staunch advocate of community development and particularly education, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Charles L. Young Sr. Foundation, P.O. Box 1970, Meridian, MS 39302-1970.