Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Young, Charles Raiford III 2014
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Marilyn Ransom mransom311@gmail.com July 15, 2015, 2:25 pm

The Ionia Sentinel-Standard, July 19, 2014


Charles Raiford Young, III, Ph.D. was a brilliant man who loved God and his 
family.  He had a passion for constant learning, and his achievements as a 
teacher live on in his students. 

Charles had suffered from fifteen years of constant and debilitating head pain, 
caused by a brain hemorrhage in 1999.  He ended that suffering on July 14, at 
his home in Saranac, Michigan. 

Born in McComb, Mississippi in 1948, Charles loved to draw pictures and read 
books from a young age.  He received an art degree with a minor in philosophy 
from Mississippi College, then switched gears to earn his M.Div. from the 
Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi.  Ordained in the 
Presbyterian Church of America, Reverend Young ministered to congregations in 
Courtland and York, Alabama.  He then returned to academia at the University of 
Georgia to study Art Criticism and Cultural Anthropology.  During this time he 
helped establish a church in Elberton, Georgia. 

After receiving his Ph.D. in Art Criticism and Cultural Anthropology, Young 
became Professor of the History of Art and Architecture at Calvin College in 
Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he saw his teaching as a ministry, a challenge, 
and a lot of fun.  Charles' research, fellowship and interests took him to 
places such as Istanbul, Paris, Serbia, Romania, England, Tunisia and 
Australia.  But home was his center, and he and Debbie opened theirs to many 
students as a place to gather, and eat. 

While at the college, Young also served at various times as Pre-Architecture 
Advisor, gallery director, and facilities planner, where he worked closely with 
his friend Bill Fyfe, the college's architect, on the college's master plan.  
Charles enjoyed gardening, going fishing, and telling stories.  And he had a 
wonderful smile. 

He is survived by his loving wife of 46 years, Deborah Reynolds Young; his 
daughter Jessica Young Start of Grand Rapids, Michigan; his son Stokes Enley 
Young; daughter-in-law Jesamyn "Sam" Go; and grandson August "Gus" Mella Young 
of Brooklyn, NY; parents Charles Raiford Young, Jr. and Bettie Thornton Young 
of Smithdale, MS; sister Irene of Brookhaven, MS; brother Leroy of Smithdale, 
MS; and Mother-in-Law Jimmie Richardson Reynolds of Clinton, MS. 

We love and miss you, sir.  As Charles' student Bogylarka said on hearing the 
news: "The Lord took Charles' hand and walked him in to heaven and said 'There 
is no pain here.'"  

We will say goodbye to Charles at 1 p.m. on Monday, July 21 at the Mount Olive 
Baptist Church in Smithdale, MS.  A celebration of his life in Grand Rapids, 
Michigan will be scheduled soon.  Memorial donations should be sent to Voice of 
the Martyrs, P.O. Box 443, Bartlesville, OK, 74005-0443. Phone: (877) 337-0302.


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