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Charles Mikell

1941 - 2013

Charles Mikell Obituary

Judge Charles B. Mikell - SAVANNAH - Judge Charles B. Mikell, age 71, died November 4, 2013 at home of complications of multiple myeloma, under the care of Hospice Savannah. He was born in Savannah on December 25, 1941. He attended public schools and graduated from Savannah Country Day School in 1959 and from Princeton University in 1963. He attended graduate school in European History at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and graduated from the University of Georgia, School of Law, with honors, in 1976. Between Princeton and graduate school, Judge Mikell served as an Army Intelligence Officer, leaving active duty as a captain in 1969. After service in Massachusetts, California and Germany, he was stationed for one year at Pleiku in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, where he was attached to the Central Intelligence Agency, and later advised South Vietnamese forces. He was awarded the Bronze Star and the Republic of Vietnam's Gallantry Cross, First Class. After law school, he began the private practice of law in Savannah as an associate and later a partner with the firm of Brannen, Wessels, and Searcy. He specialized in litigation, especially insurance, products liability and architects and engineers malpractice defense. He also practiced in South Carolina in the field of trusts and estates. In 1985 he was appointed Judge of the State Court of Chatham County by Governor Joe Frank Harris. He was elected to that post in 1986 and served as Chief Judge of that court from 1990-1992. He was President of the Georgia Council of State Court Judges from 1989-1990. In 1992 he was elected Judge of Superior Court of the Eastern Judicial Circuit (Chatham County), and was re-elected in 1996. He served as Administrative Judge of the First Judicial District, a member of the Judicial Council of Georgia and the Executive Committee of the Georgia Council of Superior Court Judges. In 2000 he was appointed a judge of the Court of Appeals of Georgia by Governor Roy Barnes, was elected to that post in 2002 and re-elected in 2008. To serve on that court, he commuted weekly to Atlanta. He served as Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals in 2011-2012 and retired in that August. His community activities included service as vice-president and later chairman of the board of the King-Tisdell Cottage Foundation, a museum of African History and Culture, president of the Neighbor-to-Neighbor Justsice Center, a non-profit mediation center, and service of the local boards of United Way, the Arthritis Foundation, the Boy Scouts, and the Devereaux Foundation, a national foundation for troubled youth. He taught Sunday School, served as a vestryman, and sang in the choir at Christ Church. He especially enjoyed coaching basketball in the eight-and-under league at the Victor B. Jenkins Memorial Boys Club. He was given Special Recognition from his service by the King-Tisdell Foundation in 2007. IN 2013 he became an honorary Diplomate of the American Board of Trial Advocates. In 2006 he was awarded the chief Justice Thomas O. Marshall Professionalism award by the State Bar of Georgia. In 2011 he was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the NAACP. He is survived by his wife of thirty-three years, Julia LeCraw Mikell, M.D., three sons, Charles B. Mikell, III, M.D. (Chuck) and his wife Isadora Botwinick Mikell, M.D., John LeCraw Mikel, M.D. and his wife Jane Lancaster Mikell, Samuel LeCraw Mikell, a brother and sister-in-law, Oswald Lightsey Mikell, M.D. and Lilly Mikell, and two grandsons, John , Jr., and James. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Claudia Mikell. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Savannah, the Commerce Club of Atlanta, the Lawyers Club of Atlanta, the Old War Horse Lawyers' Club, the Princeton Clubs of Savannah and New York, and the Army and Navy Clubs of Washington, D.C., the Society of Colonial Wars and the Sons of Revolution. The family wishes to acknowledge the outstanding care of his oncologists, Dr. O. George Negrea of Savannah, and Dr. Sagar Lonial of Emory University, Atlanta; as well as longtime driver, bodyguard and friend, Herman Blackshear and secretary and friend for over thirty years, Mrs. Linda King. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, November 7, 2013 at Fox and Weeks Funeral Directors, Hodgson Chapel. Funeral Service will be at Christ Church Episcopal at 11:00 a.m., Friday, November 8, 2013 with private burial at Bonaventure Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Frank P. Brannen, William T. Daniel, jr., Marshall H. Earl, jr., John J. Ellington, Otto F. Feil, Donald Kole, Robert O. McCloud, jr., Daniel O'Day, Carl S. Pedigo, Brent J. Savage, and Steven E. Scheer. Honorary Pallbearers will be the judges of the Georgia Court of Appeals. Remembrances may be sent to the King-Tisdell Foundation, 514 E. Huntington Street, Savannah, GA 31401; or the St. Joseph's/Candler Foundation, Heart-Lung Building, Candler Hospital, 5353 Reynolds Street, Savannah, GA 31405; or the Devereaux Foundation, 1291 Stanley Road NW, Kennesaw, GA 30152. Please sign our on line guest book at www.foxandweeks.com Savannah Morning News November 7, 2013 Please sign our Obituary Guest Book at savannnahnow.com/obituaries.

Published by Savannah Morning News from Nov. 6 to Nov. 7, 2013.
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Memories and Condolences
for Charles Mikell

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Dr . Julia Mikell and family I was saddened to hear of judge Mikell's passing, he touched so many lives. I pray that God keep & sustain you and your sons in such and painful time.

Lisa McNair-Davis

December 5, 2013

Sending prayers for comfort and healing for you and your family.

Mary Adams-Martyn

November 18, 2013

Julia,

I am so sorry for your loss. Charles was a wonderful man and I know the loss is overwhelming. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Pat and Joan Frey

November 13, 2013

Dr. Mikell,
I am so very sorry for the loss of your husband. You have always been such a caring and loving Doctor to others I have personally witnessed it myself and I am ao very sorry that you too have to suffer such a horrible loss. I have never met Judge Mikell but I know how much you loved and cared for him and that says what kind of man he is to others in my eyes... May God continue to wrap his loving arms around your family in this difficult time. All of our Love Rhonda & the kids

RHONDA SHUMAN

November 12, 2013

To the Mikell Family,
Judge Charles Mikell was the epitome of a Southern Gentleman. I met him some 30 or so years ago and he impressed me as a kind thoughtful person. We discussed our service in Vietnam, business matters, and the legal profession. All it took was a short conversation to understand why he was so respected. I always enjoyed our paths crossing and the indsight he had within him. Judge Mikell will be dearly missed in our community. May God Bless his soul and comfort his family.

Ray Gaster

November 8, 2013

May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.

V Austin [ Rev. 21: 4 ]

November 7, 2013

Dr. Mikell, I am so sorry for your loss. you and your family are in my prayers.
Mary Jo Adams

November 7, 2013

Judge Mikell, was a outstanding judge, and one of the fine gentlemen, you want to meet and talk to. Dr. Mikell, I am sorry for your loss, he is also a loss to the legal community also, he will be miss, Dr. Mikell, my prayers are with you.
Tommy J. Boondry

tommy boondry

November 7, 2013

Dr. Mikell: We send our sincere condolences to you and your family. We did not know him but the obit tells us that he was a special individual and will be truly missed. We love and appreciate you for being so kind, caring,and helpful during Jerrell's stroke over 30 years ago. God bless all of you. Barbara and Jerrell Moody
Ludowici, GA

November 7, 2013

Dear Family,

Many people cross our paths... and leave a foot print to follow. Judge Mikell gave me the opportunity to be all I can be. I am forever grateful to him for his guidance.
May warm memories of many good time bring all of you comfort knowing that he is remembered by many with love.
Rita Costrini-Norgal

November 7, 2013

Dear Julia,William,John, Sam and family. My heartfelt condolences to all of you during this difficult time. May he rest in peace and may all your memories of Judge Charles Mikell be sweet.

Sue Garber

November 7, 2013

may god be with the family at this time and forever.yall are in my heart and on my mind love yall

leola williams

November 7, 2013

Dr.Milell I am so sorry for your loss.My prayers are with you and your family at this time. I know he was a wonderful man and he will be missed by all.

Betty Brantley

November 7, 2013

I hope your family is able to take away only fond memories. My sincerest condolences.

Stephen Donahue

November 6, 2013

I am going to miss singing to you and holding your hand. I know you are in a better place. I am glad I had the privledge of knowing you.

Jannelle Brown Homeinstead

November 6, 2013

Judge Mikell had so many words of wisdom for me,yet I cannot find the words to express all that he and Dr. Mikell meant to me.I served as his primary deputy when he was first appointed Judge of the State Court of Chatham County.His sense of humor combined with his intelligence is what I noticed immediately.We stayed in touch. I will miss him.

Deborah Bartley, CCSD(retired)

November 6, 2013

We are so sorry to hear about Judge Mikell. Your family will be in our thoughts and prayers.

Gay David and Samantha Udinsky

November 6, 2013

In His Loving Arms,You are Blessed.God be with you.I thank God for a Judge as Charles Mikell.

Tiger Belcher

November 6, 2013

Judge Mikell was always a gentleman, a scholar and an honorable man. He was a law school classmate, and I have worked for him as the Clerk of the Court of Appeals of Georgia.

He fought a brave battle with cancer. He will be greatly missed.

I wish to express my sympathy to his family. Yet, I know family and friends will have many good memories of Charles Mikell to continue to share.

Holly Sparrow

November 6, 2013

Our deepest sympathies to a special family.

Iola and Perry Sapp

November 6, 2013

To Dr. Mikell & Family I'm so deeply sorry for your loss. My prayers are with you. Marcella

November 6, 2013

From the UGA Law School Class of 1976, we thank Charles for his stellar leadership and dedication to purpose. Charles Mikell was focused on leadership from the day he entered law school, wasting no time with frivolities. His prior life experiences led him to excel in all academic endeavors.

William C. (Bubba) Head
UGA Law Class of 1976

November 6, 2013

You will be deeply missed by your family and friends. Ben and I will forever hold a special place in our hearts for you! May you rest in peace.

Elizabeth and Benjamin Alonso

November 6, 2013

I will miss Judge Mikell he was a good friend always
helpful I use to work for the sheriffs Dept. several
years ago my prayers go out to the entire family


Floyd Martin

November 6, 2013

I am so deeply sorry for your loss of such a wonderful man, Daddy, husband and friend to all. I am deeply thanful for men of Judge Mikell's caliber. He was honest and attempted to the bet of his ability to be non biased. I am so sorry that the big C seems to touch each of us. May GOD bless each of you and give you the strength to carry on in this difficult time. Dr Mikell you likewise are an angel among us. GOD Bless Each of You

PHYLLIS WARREN

November 6, 2013

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Memorial Events
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Nov

7

Visitation

5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors - Hodgson Chapel

7200 Hodgson Memorial Drive, Savannah, GA 31406

Nov

8

Funeral service

11:00 a.m.

Christ Church Episcopal

GA 31406

Funeral services provided by:

Fox & Weeks Funeral Directors - Hodgson Chapel

7200 Hodgson Memorial Drive, Savannah, GA 31406

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