Dr. Charles V. Pryor

Dr. Charles Vernon Pryor, aged 84, peacefully passed away on April 3, 2026, at his home at Cooperwood Senior Living in Flowood, Mississippi. We will gather to honor and celebrate his remarkable life at Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Brandon on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 3:00 pm, with visitation beginning at 2:30 pm.

Born on May 24, 1941, in Hendersonville, North Carolina, to Clayborne Franklin Pryor and Helen Merrill Pryor, Charles lived a life marked by dedication, learning, and love. After graduating from Collinwood High School in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1959, he pursued higher education with passion, earning a Bachelor of Science in Education from Baldwin-Wallace College in 1965, followed by a Master of Science in Education in Guidance and a Doctorate in Counselor Education from Northern Illinois University.

Charles’s devotion to education shaped a career that spanned elementary school classrooms to university halls across the United States and abroad. With his beloved wife, Lois Mae Stadden, whom he married on December 29, 1962, he nurtured a family blessed with three children: Liz, Bryan, and Todd. From their early days in Ohio, to Illinois, Texas, New Delhi India, Louisiana, and beyond, Charles enriched the lives of countless students and colleagues through his teaching and administrative leadership.

Beyond his professional accomplishments, Dr. Pryor found joy in simple pleasures and meaningful pursuits—fishing, gardening, beekeeping, traveling, and most of all, cherishing time with family and friends. His heart was deeply committed to his church, where he actively served in ministries and Sunday School, and he shared his faith through mission trips to Ukraine alongside Lois.

Dr. Pryor is lovingly remembered by his children Elizabeth D. Raymond (John) of Lacombe, Louisiana, Bryan C. Pryor (Missy) of Newnan, Georgia, and Todd H. Pryor (Angelia) of Jackson, Mississippi; his sisters Gayle Ross (Scott) of Omaha, Nebraska, and Anita Hale (Michael) of St. Charles, Missouri; his grandchildren John Derek Raymond (Erika), Monica Lynch (Taylor), Benjamin Raymond, Hannah Pryor, Kaitlyn Pryor, and Vivian Pryor; and two great-grandchildren, Emma Katherine Raymond and Eliza Taylor Lynch. He was preceded in death by his cherished wife Lois and his parents.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dr. Pryor’s memory to The MIND Center at UMMC, reflecting his enduring spirit of care and compassion. His legacy of love, learning, and faith will continue to inspire all who knew him.

Donations to The MIND Center at UMMC can be made by mail to 2500 N. State St., Jackson, MS 39216 or online at https://www.umc.edu/mind