Charles Douglas Waites

Mr. Charles Douglas Waites, 86, passed away peacefully early in the morning on Friday, March 27, 2026 in Newnan, Georgia. He bravely battled Alzheimer's Disease. Charles was born on Monday, December 4, 1939 to parents Julius Henry (J.H.) and Katie Mae Waites of Margaret, Alabama. Son of a coal miner, Charles was very grateful for his small town upbringing in Margaret.

Throughout high school, Charles worked in his father's service station and learned all about cars and how to repair them. In 1958, Charles graduated from high school at Phillips Academy in Birmingham, Alabama.

Charles attained the rank of Corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving for six years from 1962 - 1968 in the reserves in Birmingham, Alabama. After he finished active duty, Charles returned to college.

One of the highlights of his life was attending college at Auburn University, mainly because Charles was the first person in his large extended family to attend and complete college. Charles met the love of his life in college. Charles married Barbara Lorraine Gann, a native of Birmingham, on May 8, 1965. During their married life, they settled in Birmingham, Alabama; Albany, Georgia; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Columbus, Georgia; Boca Raton, Florida; and finally, Newnan, Georgia for 40 years. In 1971, their son Charles Gregory was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. In 1980, their son Bryan Douglas was born in Columbus, Georgia. Both of Charles's sons were proudly his namesakes.

Always quick with a joke or a witticism, Charles always had a twinkle in his eye, an endearing chuckle, and a bounce in his step when he headed outside to mow the yard or to work on one of the cars. Hard work was a major element of Charles's life, and he had a difficult time sitting still or wasting time. For 27 years, Charles was a Regional Manager in the commercial trucking industry. Then in his 50's, he reignited his career and became a Financial Advisor for 15 years. In his later years, he loved to be a part of the Kiwanis Club and to volunteer at Piedmont Hospital. His sons fondly recall him selling pecans in the fall, stacking firewood in the winter, and driving to north Georgia in the summer for peaches. When the boys were younger, Charles spent a lot of time teaching them to fish and to boat around the lake.

Barbara and Charles loved to travel, and one of their trips in his twilight years was to the Holy Land in Israel. That trip with his church had a profound impact on his life. Charles gained a fresh desire to learn more about the places where Jesus walked, and his gentleness and love for others grew as he grew older. Charles expressed a desire to be with God and to go to heaven one day, and his family is comforted by the fact that he is in heaven with Jesus now.

Charles is preceded in death by his father and mother, J.H. and Katie Waites; his sister Sarah (Waites) Frazier; and his Aunt Dean (Drummonds) Donnahoo.

Charles is survived by his wife of 60 years, Barbara (Gann) Waites of Newnan; son Greg Waites and his wife Melissa; and son Bryan Waites and his wife Jennifer. Charles was very proud of his five grandchildren, Abagail Waites, C.J. Waites, Joey Waites, Kathleen Waites, and Marianne Waites, who all affectionately called him "Pap."

Visitation for Charles will be held on Wednesday, April 1 from 5:00 - 7:00 pm at McKoon Funeral Home in Newnan, Georgia. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, April 2, 2026 at 11:00 am at Central Baptist Church, also in Newnan. Graveside services will follow the funeral at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (656 Roscoe Road, Newnan, Georgia 30263).

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.mckoon.com.

Flowers are appreciated and may be sent to the family at McKoon Funeral Home (38 Jackson Street, Newnan, Georgia 30263). Also, contributions in Charles's memory may be made to Central Baptist Church (14 West Broad Street, Newnan, Georgia 30263), one of his favorite places.

He will be forever loved and missed.

McKoon Funeral Home & Crematory (770) 253-4580