The  Honorable Charles Lemuel Young, Sr., former member of the Mississippi  State House of Representatives, civil rights activist and entrepreneur  succumbed to a heart attack on April 29, 2009. A native of  Meridian, Mississippi, Charles L. Young, Sr. was born on August 27,  1931, the eldest son and second of three children of E. F. Young, Jr.  and Velma E. Beal.

The year he was born, his father founded the E.F. Young, Jr.  Manufacturing Co. in Meridian. Within a few years, it would become one  of the most prominently black-owned businesses in the South. Like his  two siblings, Young would be exposed to the family business at an early  age. He was educated in the Meridian Public Schools, graduating from T. J. Harris High School in 1947. During his freshman year in college, Young attended Wiley College in Marshall, Texas. He then transferred to Tennessee A&I (later to become Tennessee State University) in Nashville, Tennessee, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.

In 1950, while attending Tennessee State, his father died. Upon his graduation in 1951, Young was drafted and served in the U.S. Army where he became a sergeant  first class in less than two years and received the Bronze Star and  other medals for his service in the Korean Conflict. After being  honorably discharged from the Army, Young returned home to assist his  mother in the family business.

In  1960, he married Doretha Connor of Port Arthur, Texas, an army  lieutenant who later became a mathematics instructor at Meridian  Community College. To this union were born four children: Charles, Jr.,  Deidre, Arthur (Sandy) and Veldore (Vel).

BUSINESSMAN

In  1969, Young rose to the position of president of the E.F. Young, Jr.  Manufacturing Co. Under his leadership, the company would prosper and  become the oldest family-owned manufacturer of ethnic hair care products  in the United States. Eventually the enterprise expanded its markets to  include Canada, the Caribbean, England and South Africa. The impact of Young’s leadership in the field of cosmetology was recognized by Mississippi Legislature when it named the
Meridian Community College School of Cosmetology in his honor.

Branching  out into other entrepreneurial areas, Young was the founder and  president of Young’s Construction Company which employed the finest  African-American craftsmen in the community. His brother, Eugene F. (Sonny) Young,III later took over this part of the family business. 

He was honored as Mississippi’s Minority Business Person of the Year and received the Hartley Peavey Award. Young, a former member of the Economic Development Board, was at one time a major stockholder in WLBT-TV Jackson, WLBM-TV  Meridian and WTNK radio Meridian. Young was also the first black  licensed real estate broker in Meridian. He served his home business community as a member of the board of directors of the Greater Meridian Chamber of Commerce, a member of the National Business League, and a member of the Mississippi Independent Beauticians Association.

CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST

As  a civil rights activist, Young was involved in fighting for voter  registration, and he was an avid and ardent supporter of the 1964 Civil  Rights Act. He negotiated with local police to minimize injuries to  Freedom Riders who came to Meridian in the early 1960’s. This  lifetime NAACP member picketed local stores and national franchises  including Woolworth regarding employment discrimination practices and  the integration of lunch counters. Young worked tirelessly with other civil rights giants such as Medgar  and Charles Evers, Rep. John Lewis, Fannie Lou Hamer, Rev. Charles  Johnson, Dr. Aaron Henry and many others known and unknown.

As a life long member of Newell Chapel CME Church,  Young brought his love of God, education and children together. It was  during the civil rights movement that the first meetings of Mississippi  Action for Progress (MAP) were held at Newell Chapel Church. As  a charter board member of MAP, Young was pleased and delighted with the  Head Start Program, which provides education, health, nutrition and  parental-involvements services to low-income children and their  families. Recently, in Meridian, the new constructed HeadStart facility was named the Charles L. Young, Sr. Child Development Center.

Recognized  by former Presidents such as John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Jimmy  Carter and William "Bill" Clinton for his contributions to the Civil  Rights Movement, Human Rights Efforts and Peoples Rights Causes, Young  was invited to attended several Presidential inaugurations.
 

CIVIC VOLUNTEER

Young  was the first African-American member of the Meridian Chamber of  Commerce and was instrumental in bringing into the city services that  meet the needs of the community including Greater Meridian Health  Clinic, Multi-County Community Service Agency and Haven Business College. He has received many community, state and national awards and has been recognized as one of Mississippi's outstanding businessmen. 

Early  in his life, Young was very active with youth activities which included  the Boys Scouts, picking up children on Sunday morning for Sunday  school and, most recently, sponsored a tennis camp for more than 100  children annually. 

Young was a founding member of the Meridian Alumni Chapter of Kappa  Alpha Psi Fraternity. He also was a member of the Elks Metropolitan  Lodge #551, a 32nd Degree Mason, a Shriner and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. 

STATESMAN

Young was elected as a Democrat to the House of Representatives in 1979, taking office in January 1980, representing the 82nd District, which encompasses parts of Meridian In Lauderdale County.  As the influential Chairman of the Universities and Colleges Committee,  Young played a major role in enhancing the state’s system of higher  education particularly for the historically black colleges and  universities as the Ayers discrimination suit was settled. Other-Legislative  Committees include: Banking and Financial Services; Congressional  Redistricting; Juvenile Justice; Labor; Legislative Reapportionment;  Select Committee on Fiscal Stability; and Ways and Means.  He was a former member of the Board of Corrections, Economic Development Board and the Research and Development Council.  

As  an active member of in the Southern Legislative Conference (SLC), an  organization of legislative leaders from 16 Southern states, Young  served the SLC as chairman of its Economic and Cultural Development  Committee. He also led as chairman of the Mississippi  Legislative Black Caucus, which was formed in 1980 to provide a forum  for African-American legislators to discuss issues of interest to  minority citizens.

In  addition to Young’s legislative contributions, he is most remembered by  his colleagues of the House of Representatives for offering “Sine Die,”  the closing prayer at the end of each session for 29 years

A BELOVED MAN

Volumes could be written about the number of people Young counseled, inspired and encouraged in their lives. Young will be remembered as a statesman, gentleman, friend, and servant; lover of his family, community and of his God.

Young  leaves to cherish his memory his children Charles L. Young, Jr., Deidre  Young Milton (Michael), Arthur S. Young, and the Hon. Veldore F. Young;  his brother Eugene F. “Sonny” Young, III (Rose);  and brother-in-law, Floyd Collins (Mary); grandchildren Armand, William, Douglas, Michael, Dennis, Garrison Other relatives  include Antonumerous nieces, nephews and other family members. Also  left to cherish his memory are his god children, Asif and Aneesa Lala  and Lauren and Chance Purvis.
 

Charles, Jr., Deidre,  Arthur and Veldore credit their father with instilling them with strong  moral values, personal strength, and a positive attitude. The  children continue to honor father's legacy by raising money for the Rep.  Charles L. Young, Sr. Fund.

Rep. Charles L. Young, Sr. was truly inspiration to us all.