Mr. Charles Henry Jordan, age 69 of Sandersville, Ga, died on Tuesday October 2, 2018. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Sandersville. Reverend Lee Lacey, Reverend Cecil Cook and Reverand Dr. Stan Littleton will officiate.
Charles was a lifelong native of Sandersville, Georgia, who proudly stated he was an “8th Generation Washington County resident,” the son of the late Newton Marion and Mary Alice Brim Jordan. He attended Oxford College of Emory University, Georgia Technical College and graduated from Georgia State University with a Bachelor of Finance in 1972. He was Land Manager of Thiele Kaolin Company for 38 years, until his retirement in 2014.
Charles had many talents. He was a true southern gentleman, an avid carpenter, gardener, forester and hobbyist in blacksmithing. His passion for the outdoors, building and car restoration and history was known by many.
To say that Charles Jordan loved to travel would be an understatement. From river cruises and European adventures, to road trips and antique treasure hunts, his travel companions were many, but his consummate companion was always the love of his life and wife of 39 years, Cheryl Hartley Jordan. Through the years he could frequently be found hiking somewhere on the Appalachian Trail with an old friend or exploring Cumberland Island with his growing family, but he always managed to return home with a story to tell, memories to share and pictures to remind everyone of good times gone by.
The value that Charles Jordan placed upon the family was immense. From gentle teachings to frank conversations, he excelled at being earnest and thrived on the notion that family is always first and familial bonds run deep. Memories of Pops leading his grandchildren’s long shadows down well trodden dusty farm roads will forever come to mind.
To teach, to learn and to give back to his community were driving principles in Charles’s life. Examples of his service to the community through clubs and committees are;
President of the Washington County Historical Society (1979-1980), Organizer of Washington County Leadership (1991), Founding Member of the Sandersville Tree Board (1991) where he helped establish the community arboretum and walking trail at Washington County Regional Medical Center (1996), President of the Washington County American Heart Association (1991), Member of the Old City Cemetery Committee (1992) where remained active up to 2017 by making guest appearances on cemetery walks as characters of Sandersville’s past, Chairman of Washington County Chamber of Commerce (1995 – 1996), Boy Scout Representative for Central Georgia Council (1996 – 1997), Chairman of the Downtown Revitalization Project (1998), Member of the Brentwood School Board (2000 – 2005), Member of the Sandersville Rotary Club for 22 years, two time Paul Harris Fellow and Rotary President (2001 – 2002). Renovation Committee First Baptist Church (1997), and Antioch Baptist Church Committee (1985-2010). After all of these accolades, it’s no surprise that Charles received Washington County’s highest honor “Citizen of the Year” in 1998.
Survivors include his mother, Mary Alice Jordan; his wife, Cheryl Hartley Jordan of Sandersville; his sister, Mary Susan Jordan Bell and her husband Tom; his children, Elizabeth Jordan Haines and her husband Sean, Virginia Jordan Haake and her husband Richard, Mary Charles Jordan Howard and her husband Keenan, Mary Rebecca Etheridge, and Shannon Etheridge Whitten; grandchildren, Charles Brittin Haines, Thomas Jordan Haines, Richard Bowman Haake, Henry Richard Howard and Ruth Bright Howard, Mary Elizabeth Etheridge Walton (Meme), and Will Marsh; nephews, Aaron Michael Clements and Matthew Charles Clements; great nieces and nephews, Caroline Olivia Clements, Sarah Catherine Clements, Kaylee Nicole and Aaron Jordan Clements.
The family will be receiving friends at their farm Jordan’s Journey on Friday October 5, 2018.
In Lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Brentwood School, First Christian Church of Sandersville, Rotary Club Foundation of Sandersville, and The Brown Museum.
May and Smith Funeral Directors in Sandersville is in charge of the arrangements.