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Charles Jernigan, age 78, of the Antioch Community passed away Oct. 29, 2024, in a Milton, Florida hospital.

Funeral services will be held Monday, Nov. 4, noon, at Keahey Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. until time of the services. Father Giles Pardue will preside. Interment will follow in the Adams Memorial Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be Joseph Jernigan, Michael Jernigan, Daniel Jernigan, Tommy Sasser, Nicholas Beasley, and Chris Jones. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Mission, (33741 Straugh School Road, Andalusia, AL 36421).

Left to cherish his memory include his loving wife, Anne LaBrun Jernigan; children, Eddie Jernigan (Anita), Michael Jernigan (Julia), Catherine Sasser (Tommy), Jenny Jernigan Owens, Joseph Jernigan, all of Andalusia, and Daniel Jernigan (Alysha) of Kansas; grandchildren, Johnny Jernigan, Matthew Jernigan, Justin Jernigan, Jacob Jernigan, Jared Jernigan, Megan Jernigan, Jasmine Jones, Diamond Brown, Trent Sasser, Elizabeth Cantaline, Laura Green, Patrick Green, Christina Green, Jessica Green, Nicholas Beasley, Joseph Beasley, Tony Beasley, Whitney Hall, Jenna Jernigan, Levi Hall, and Daniel Jernigan Jr.; and 15 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Mary Beasley, and a sister, Doris Robbins.

Charles Lester Jernigan was born on Jan. 1, 1946, of English and Irish heritage in Alabama, the son of Jesse and Minie Lee Jernigan. He spent several years growing up in Bayou la Batre, Alabama. He attended two years of technical college in Palm Beach, Florida.

While working at Cape Canaveral he met his wife, Anne Catherine LeBrun, and they were married in Palm Beach in 1969. He officially adopted Anne’s three children, Eddie, Michael, and Catherine Jernigan, then decided to move to the Antioch community in Andalusia to get out of the busy hustle of South Florida, and be in the country to raise their children. He converted to the Roman Catholic faith and over the next few years Anne and Charlie had four more children, Jennifer, Mary, Joseph, and Daniel Jernigan. Charles and Anne helped pass a bill to legalize homeschooling in the state of Alabama successfully. He worked in a nursing home as a CNA, then Caterpillar heavy equipment plant in Montgomery. He worked at a paper mill for several years before getting a job as head mechanic of the road department for Covington County from which he retired.

He took his role as a provider very seriously. His hobbies included wine making, black and white photography, always dabbled in chemistry, and was very knowledgeable about soil, deficiencies, and was a very gifted gardener that left many people envious of his tomatoes. Charles was meticulous in his research for his gifted barbecue and grilling and won several competitions within a very competitive annual family grill-off.

He taught his children the old ways of raising pigs and livestock on a small scale. Charlie was a unique man and loved a good joke, sometimes repeating them until he was positive everyone had a chance to laugh. He was known for his elaborate storytelling skills. Charlie was a very humble, godly man. He passed away with family surrounding him.