Tributes

Sonny (Charlie D.) Waits passed away on June 19, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. A visitation will be held on Friday, June 23, 2023, from 10:00am until 12:00pm at Miller Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held in the Toby Miller Chapel starting at 12:00 noon. A graveside service will follow at Dogwood Trail Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Brother Trull Hill will be officiating. Sonny is survived by his children, DeAnna McCormick (Justin), Leslie Morrison (Ed), and Katie Nappier (Brandon); grandchildren, Katlynn Ann and Holly Ann; sister, Gloria Cranmer; brother, Phil Waits (Donna); niece, Stacy Cranmer; nephew, Bryan Waits (Erin). Sonny is preceded in death by his loving wife of 44 years, Mary Jo Waits; parents, Harry Lee Waits and Phoebe Pearl Waits. Pallbearers will be Ed Morrison, Justin McCormick, Brandon Nappier, Bart Jordan, Bryan Waits, and Tim Lynch. Honorary pallbearers will be Blue Hollingsworth, Tommy O’Dell, William Robertson, David Estes, Lavoy Jordan, Dan Morrison, and Larry Griggs. Sonny was a lifelong resident of Calhoun County; he grew up in Golden Springs and attended Dearmanville School and graduated from OHS in 1965. He moved to Oxford when he and his beloved wife, Mary Jo married in 1968. Sonny was a faithful Servant of Jesus and was a member of Meadowbrook Baptist Church where he loved to sing. Sonny was a master fabricator and welder, working at Southern Tool for 38 years and also moonlighting in his own machine shop at home providing for his family. Sonny’s true passion besides his family was hot rods and old cars. He was always driving a different car that he had bought or traded for, he didn’t stay attached for long though, and every new one that he got was “the finest automobile that he had ever owned.” Sonny was a faithful husband, best daddy, true friend, and doating PawPaw. There are truly no words that will ascribe the love that his family and friends have for such a big man with a bigger personality and heart. He will forever be missed, we cannot wait to hear him sing, laugh, and tell stories again. In lieu of flowers the family asks that everyone drive their hot rods, muscle cars, or antique vehicles to the graveside with his girls and family.

Tributes

Mr. Sonny Charlie D. Waits

January 11, 1946 - June 19, 2023