William Charles 'Charlie' Gillespie

William Charles ‘Charlie’ Gillespie Charles was born September 24th 1933, in Clarkesville, GA. The second son of Clay Olus and Mary Inglis Gillespie. Before Charles turned 2 years old, the little family moved to Miami, Florida in search of job opportunities during the depression years. After Clay was hired at Eastern Airlines, the family moved back to Georgia, settling in Hapeville. Hapeville was Charlie’s hometown, where he graduated from Hapeville High School, started his career with Delta, married his high school sweetheart, and started his family. Charlie had a long career with Delta, with 40 years of service. Retiring in 1991 as Manager of Materiel Services ATL. He loved his Delta family. He played in the Delta softball league, the bowling team, tennis team and sang with the Delta Singers. He loved music and was always singing. When he was only 8 years old, he would sing and conduct his invisible orchestra in his little bedroom he shared with his older brother, Bobby. He honed his skills of piano and singing at the Hapeville UMC and sang with many area competition quartets. He was a member of the Atlanta Singers, the Atlanta Symphony Chamber Choral, a founding member of the Masterworks Chorale, a professional tenor soloist with the Atlanta Opera Company, and numerous Atlanta area churches. He has been a long-time member and Lifetime Golden Guilder at the Southside Theatre in Fairburn, performing in 30+ productions. Charlie was a skilled tennis player, an ok golfer, and talented actor. After retiring from Delta, Charles and Susan became avid golfers traveling with other couples around the country golfing and having fun. Charles became a fixture at Canongate I and White Oak Golf clubs, where he worked for 30 years doing everything from clerking in the pro shop to cleaning carts. He loved managing his Monday/Friday Gillespie Golf Group of Duffers, and if you were lucky enough on a clear crisp morning you just might get to hear his beautiful voice from across the fairway singing a breathtaking tune. He was known to entertain fellow golfers with his tunes on Sunday mornings, and late nights in the North Carolina mountains. Charles is preceded in death by his parents Clay and Mary, his brother, Rev. Robert C. Gillespie, and his first wife Charlsie Simonds Gillespie Weaver. Charles is survived by his wife of 44 years, Susan Johnson Gillespie, of Newnan; sons, William ‘Bill’ Gillespie (Peggy) of Dalton, and Kenneth Gillespie (Suzanne) of Atlanta; daughter, Bonnie Gillespie (Keith) of Santa Monica, Ca.; Grandchildren: Justin Gillespie (Natasha), Tiffany Gillespie Fox (George), and Jason Gillespie; Great Grandchildren, Wayco and Waverlynn Gillespie; Sisters, Jean Hull and Mary Ann Koon (Dick) of Jacksonville; sister-in-law, Sondra Weaver Gillespie, of Decatur; sister-in-law, June Somers (John) of Hilton Head, SC'; brother-in-law, Mike Johnson of Hiawassee, Ga, and dozens of cousins, nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on his birthday, September 24th at 3 o'clock with a visitation at 2 o'clock at the Southwest Christian Church, 3836 US-29, Newnan, Ga 30265 To honor Charles, the family asks that contributions be made to The Southside Theatre Guild, POB 616, Fairburn Georgia 30213, or buy a season ticket and support local theatre in your area.

William Charles 'Charlie' Gillespie

September 24, 1933 - August 7, 2023