J. Honeycutt Obituary

J. Charles "Charlie" Honeycutt

J. Charles "Charlie" Honeycutt, 94, of Columbia, Tennessee, died Thursday, March 30, 2023, at home in Columbia, Tennessee.

Charlie was born Feb. 25, 1929, in Greeneville, Tennessee, the son of the late Fox and Stacie Honeycutt of Knoxville, Tennessee.

He is survived by his wife, Reba Stevenson Honeycutt (and her children, Sandra and Alexander); sons, Charles Kim Honeycutt and wife, Soonie of Tyngsboro, Massachusetts, and Mark Hanson Honeycutt of Wilton, Connecticut; daughter, Cheree A. Honeycutt Wiegman of Columbia, Tennessee; grandson, Michael Honeycutt (ex-wife Lindsay); great-grandson, Parker J. Honeycutt of Cape Coral, Florida; sister, Wanda H. Miller of Atlanta, Georgia; niece, Lisa M Holland of Atlanta; sister-in-law, Molly (Bill) Ammons; and niece-in-law, Marnie (Ted) Johnson of Columbia, Tennessee.

He was also preceded in death by his first wife, Thais Vives Honeycutt; second wife, Mary Reed Honeycutt; brother-in-law, James E. Miller; and aunt, Sophia Blanch Combs.

Charlie graduated from Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and was an alumnus of Berea College, Berea, Kentucky, where he earned his B.S. Degree in Business Administration in 1951. Awarded a Graduate Assistantship by University of Tennessee/Knoxville, he received his Master of Science Degree in Labor Relations in 1952.

After completing Officer Candidate School at U.S. Naval Base in Newport, Rhode Island, he was commissioned an Ensign in U.S. Navy in Dec., 1952. His military career included service as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer, Deep Sea Diving Officer, and Executive Officer of the USS Gillis, a minehunter ship during the Korean Conflict. Active in the Naval Reserve for 22 years, he retired with the rank of Commander in 1989. Reserve duty included active duty aboard the aircraft carriers USS Lake Champlain, USS Essex, USS Antietam, and USS Independence, Commanding Officer of Naval Reserve Units, Toledo and Lima, duty at Naval Academy and Naval War College.

On release from the Navy in 1955, he began his career with Union Carbide Corporation with National Carbon Division Industrial relations department in Charlotte, North Carolina. Later, he was Assistant Manager Industrial Relations at the Columbia, Tennessee plant. From there, he was promoted to Assistant Plant Manager at the Fostoria manufacturing facilities. In 1971, he was transferred to the Division's New York City Corporate Employee Relations Department which later moved to Danbury, Connecticut, in 1980. In 1986, he retired as Manager of Human Resources for Carbon Products Division of Union Carbide Corporation with 31 years of company service.

He was an active member in First United Methodist Church (FUMC) in Columbia, Tennessee, and for many years, he was active in St. Christopher Church in McGregor Bay, Ontario, Canada, as well as Palmas Community Church in Humacao, Puerto Rico. Other activities included Junior Chamber of Commerce, President of the Fostoria Kiwanis Club, Junior Director First Farmers & Merchants Bank in Columbia, Tennessee, and also the Commercial Bank in Fostoria. He liked to play tennis and golf, but his favorite was fishing and boating in Canada with family and friends.

The family will receive visitors 4-6 p.m. Tuesday, April 4, 2023, with Charlie's funeral at 6 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, Columbia, Tennessee, with the Rev. Lee Stevenson officiating. Burial will follow at a later date privately with family at Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, 222 W. 7th Street, Columbia, Tennessee, 38401.

Honorary pallbearers are Charles Kim Honeycutt, Mark Hanson Honeycutt, Michael Honeycutt, Bill Ammons, Ted Johnson, and Hardin Johnson.

Burial arrangements are being handled by Oakes & Nichols, Inc., Columbia, Tennessee.