Charles Grady Scoggins, a believer in Jesus Christ, went to his heavenly home Saturday,
September 10th, 2022 at St. Dominic’s Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi. Born on July 21st, 1943, he was the son of Grady Lovin and Christine Henderson Scoggins of French Camp, Mississippi. He was a graduate of French Camp Academy and received a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science from Mississippi State University. Charlie also served in the Mississippi National Guard from 1964 – 1970, serving as a Specialist 5th Class. He was an expert marksman. He married June Cooper Scoggins on June 22nd, 1974, and they made Starkville their lifelong home. He loved God, his church, his family, and MSU, including all the athletic activities and faithfully supported those Bulldogs. He enjoyed traveling, seeing the mountains, beautiful gardens, historical homes and estates and Christmas.
His professional career began at Mississippi State in June, 1970 and he retired as Director of Campus Landscape in 2002, where his department maintained the grounds of the university, all the athletic and intramural fields and the MSU golf course. Through the years, he had a vision to create a beautiful, attractive and well-manicured environment that would be pleasing to the eye, create a sense of home and be an inviting atmosphere to aid in the recruitment of students and faculty, as well as please alumni. This would also help secure donations for the university at large. He was instrumental in helping establish the first nation-wide landscape contracting curriculum and the second four-year professional golf management curriculum for Mississippi State.
He was a member of many professional organizations in the horticulture, landscape, turf and golf industry. He was a strong individual of integrity and humility and was a dedicated servant leader. In 1984 he received the Distinguished Service award from the Mississippi Turf Grass Association and the Distinguished Staff award from Mississippi State University in 1995.
He was a wonderful husband, father, uncle, brother, “grandee” and friend. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Starkville and of the Empty Nesters Community group family.
He is survived by his wife, June Cooper Scoggins of 48 years, and his son, Charles Cooper (Margo) and grandchildren Catherine Elizabeth Scoggins and Charles Austin Scoggins, his sister Carolyn Scoggins Rodgers, sister-in-law Dee Cooper Ball and nieces and nephews Dr. Amy Ball Coleman (Jim), Stacy Ball Anderson (Mike), Dr. Brad Ball, Dr. Ken Ball (Mary) and Chris Rodgers (Amy) and a host of friends & family.
There will be a visitation on Thursday, September 15, 2022 from 11:00-1:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Starkville, MS, with the celebration of life service immediately following in the church sanctuary.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the MSU Baptist Student Union (P.O. Box BU, Mississippi State, MS, 39762) or the Lottie Moon Christmas offering at First Baptist Church, Starkville. An endowed scholarship to honor Charles G. Scoggins is being planned with the MSU Development Foundation (Mailing Address: The MSU Foundation, P.O. Box 6149, Mississippi State, MS 39762. Physical Address: Hunter Henry Center, 1 Hunter Henry Boulevard, Mississippi State University).
