Charles Mullinax

CLEVELAND Charles J. "Red" Mullinax, 87, passed away peacefully at his home Sunday, Oct. 20, 2013.He was a member of North Cleveland Church of God since 1947 where he served on the pastoral council, the building committees, and the International Radio and Television Board of the Church of God. He was a 52 year member of the Unity Sunday School Class. He was a veteran of World War II where he served in the U.S. Navy Seabees stationed in the Pacific.After the war, he along with his father and brother opened a used car dealership in Cleveland known as Mullinax Motors. In the 1950's, the three men organized Capitol Motor Sales in Chattanooga which later became Capitol Toyota. In 1964, Red and his brother Don purchased the Lincoln Mercury dealership in Cleveland. In 1967, he secured the Oldsmobile Cadillac and GMC dealership which he named Superior Olds Cadillac GMC. He was the driving force behind the organization of First Citizens Bank and was responsible for selecting all those involved in the development of the new bank. He was a charter board member of Pioneer Credit.He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles James and Jessie B. McDowell Mullinax; brother, Donald H. Mullinax; and sisters, Sandy Mullinax Williams and Dorothy Mullinax Grigsby. He is survived by one sister, Virginia R. Mullinax, of Cleveland.He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Geneva Sliger Mullinax, of Cleveland; daughter and son-in-law, Jan Mullinax Linder and Tom, of Atlanta; one grandson and wife, Scott Fitzgerald Johnson and Carol, of Bethesda, Md.; three great-grandchildren, Susanna, Daniel and Thomas Johnson, all of Bethesda, Md.; extended family members, Mark Linder and wife, Christy and their son, Brock of Springfield, Tenn.; and several nieces and nephews.A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013, at Hilcrest Memorial Gardens Mausoleum with Pastors Cy Harris and Mitch Maloney officiating. Honorary pallbearers will include Kenneth Rayborn, Forrest Preston, Jack Lonas, Johnny Holden, Bernard Dixon, Dale Hughes, James S. Webb.His family will receive friends from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday at the Dixon Chapel of North Cleveland Church of God.His family requests no flowers and asks that memorials be made to the Salvation Army, 437 Inman Street, Cleveland, TN 37311.We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Mullinax family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.Ralph Buckner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.