Charles "Charlie" M. McKenzie

Charles “Charlie” M. McKenzie, 70, a lifelong resident of Cleveland, passed away Saturday, January 9, 2020 at a Chattanooga Hospital.

Councilman Charlie who has served as councilman for the city of Cleveland for the past 10 years greatly impacted our community in many extraordinary ways. He worked as a school bus driver for 39 years for Bradley County School System, owned the Furniture Warehouse for 38 years, Constable for 12 years, Police Officer for the City of Cleveland for 3 years, Bradley County Sheriff Deputy, and lastly served Cleveland as a City Councilman. In every aspect of his life he served others, and he was known for his kindness and dedication to our community. Charlie attended and graduated from Cleveland High School. He was of Church of God faith, and had lived in Cleveland his entire life.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Elisha and Sally Green McKenzie, and William and Mattie Black Mason; parents, Kermit and Icye McKenzie; a brother; and special friend, John Edgar Brown.

He is survived by his loving wife of 20 years, Marsha Renee McKenzie; children, Steve Murray and wife, Melanie of Cleveland; grandchildren J.D. Murray of Parris Island, SC, Kiersten Belyy and husband, Andrey of Cleveland, and Miranda Goff of Cleveland; great-grandchild Esther Belyy, arriving in January; cousins, Jimmy Mantooth, Linda Willson, Nancy Teague, Tracy Sewell, and other cousins; special friends and honorary pallbearers, Randy Fox, Joe Lemons, Ted Moss, Joel Trammell, George McCoin, George Meachem, and Ron Harris, Bubba Crye, Ronnie Grubb, Mike Self, Hoyt Clark, Jerome Shepard; and many other friends also survived.

A special graveside celebration of life service will be conducted on Thursday, January, 14, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at Hilcrest Memorial Gardens with Mayor Kevin Brooks, Mayor Emeritus Tom Rowland, Rev. Kelvin Page, and Rev. Gary Sears. Pallbearers will include the City of Cleveland Police Department, Bradley County Sherriff’s Department, and the Cleveland Fire Department. A white dove release ceremony and playing of bagpipes will conclude the service.

You may watch the service via live stream on Ralph Buckner Funeral Home’s Facebook page.

Ralph Buckner Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of all arrangements.

We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the McKenzie family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.