Obituary for Charles James Hunter
Attorney and chemist Charles James Hunter was born March 19, 1945 in Mobile Alabama to his late beloved mother, Maude W. Hunter, and late father Judge Hunter. Throughout his life Charles never encountered an obstacle he could not face and never faced an obstacle he would not help others over. From his early days working with Operation Breadbasket/PUSH assuring voter rights, to his volunteer work on inmate appeals, to his savvy leadership in both the campaign and administration of Chicago's first black Mayor, Harold Washington, Charles was a champion for his community. This relentless, righteous dedication was a trait he acquired at home and at Central High School in Mobile, and is one he passed on to his wife, Karen Ayd Hunter, and his three sons, Charles, Robert, and Gregory. Despite his risky cancer prognosis, Charles garnered the spirit to fight on until God called him home on December 26, 2018.
Charles graduated from Central High in 1962, and received his B.S. degree in chemistry from Tennessee State University in 1966. He also matriculated for his M.S. degree in Chemistry from the University of Chicago. He began his career in 1966 as an analytical chemist at the International Harvester Company (NAVISTAR.) In 1968, he worked briefly as a substitute teacher with Chicago Public Schools. Later that year, he was hired as a customer service chemist at Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation, where he worked until 1971. Hunter joined the chemical sales department at 3M Company in 1972, where he covered thirteen states. After receiving his J.D. degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1974, he worked as a patent attorney at The Quaker Oats Company, and he later added real estate, marketing, environmental, and mergers and acquisitions law to his specialties. He became the General Counsel for The Quaker Oats Company’s restaurant division. He began working with Harold Washington during his mayoral campaign in Chicago, Illinois, becoming his assistant when Washington was elected in 1983. In this role, Hunter managed the offices of Purchasing, Personnel, Employment and Training, Inspectional services, Zoning, Aviation, Cable television, among others, and he was the Mayor’s direct link to the Chicago Housing Authority and School Board. He was also responsible for recruiting, vetting, and recommending all City of Chicago board commissions and appointments. He left the City of Chicago in 1986 to join the law firm of Jones, Ware & Grenard. In 1988, Hunter was recruited by DuPont de Nemours, where he specialized in patent and environmental law as well as mergers and acquisitions. In 1993, he became the Director of Governmental Affairs for Ascom Timeplex, a position he held until the company closed in 1996. Hunter then co-owned of a janitorial company with Heavyweight Champion Ernie Terrell, which he helped expand to over 900 contracted positions in schools, offices, and police stations throughout the Chicagoland area. He retired from the company in 2012. Charles lived life fully, experiencing all the world offered by travelling to countries in Africa, Asia and Europe. He was an avid sailor, part-time golfer and a musician. Charles’ life was recently featured on The HistoryMakers.com, the largest African American oral history collection.
Charles Hunter will be missed and remembered by his loving wife Karen Ayd Hunter of Chicago, his sons Charles James Hunter II (Pam) of Monee IL, and Robert Williams Hunter and Gregory Earl Hunter, both of Chicago IL, his granddaughters Kyndle Paige Hunter and Kayla Monet Hunter, and great-granddaughter Kamora LaNaya Allison, all of Monee IL, his nephews Erwin Roy Jackson (Sylvia) of Lubbock TX and Earl Roy Jackson II of Chicago IL, his niece Janice Jackson McClain of Chicago IL, his first cousin Vernon Williams (Lee) of Baltimore MD, his three great nieces Teresea Jackson McPherson (Everald) of Orlando, Florida; Janasia McClain Sumlar (Keith) of Champaign, Illinois and Tiffany Jackson (Danza) of San Antonio, Texas; two great nephews Erwin Roy Jackson Jr. of San Antonio, Texas and Jaurique McClain of Chicago, Illinois; Godchildren Maylazia Hunter of Mobile, Alabama and Reginald Roland Jackson (Allison) of Ann Arbor, Michigan and Eulinda Jackson Smith (Moriya) of Tallahassee, Florida; his cousins Andrew (Jeanetta), Gwenda Overton (), Keturah (), andWalter (), and a host of other friends and family. Charles was preceded in death by his brother, Earl Roy Jackson, his mother Maude Williams Hunter, his nephew Charles Roy Jackson, and his great-nephew Jawaun McClain.
A viewing will be held from 1pm to 8pm on January 4, 2019 at Smalls Funeral Home 950 S. Broad St. Mobile AL 36603. The funeral service of worship will be held on January 5, 2018 at 11am at Stone Street Baptist Church 311 Tunstall Street Mobile AL 36603.
Charles graduated from Central High in 1962, and received his B.S. degree in chemistry from Tennessee State University in 1966. He also matriculated for his M.S. degree in Chemistry from the University of Chicago. He began his career in 1966 as an analytical chemist at the International Harvester Company (NAVISTAR.) In 1968, he worked briefly as a substitute teacher with Chicago Public Schools. Later that year, he was hired as a customer service chemist at Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation, where he worked until 1971. Hunter joined the chemical sales department at 3M Company in 1972, where he covered thirteen states. After receiving his J.D. degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1974, he worked as a patent attorney at The Quaker Oats Company, and he later added real estate, marketing, environmental, and mergers and acquisitions law to his specialties. He became the General Counsel for The Quaker Oats Company’s restaurant division. He began working with Harold Washington during his mayoral campaign in Chicago, Illinois, becoming his assistant when Washington was elected in 1983. In this role, Hunter managed the offices of Purchasing, Personnel, Employment and Training, Inspectional services, Zoning, Aviation, Cable television, among others, and he was the Mayor’s direct link to the Chicago Housing Authority and School Board. He was also responsible for recruiting, vetting, and recommending all City of Chicago board commissions and appointments. He left the City of Chicago in 1986 to join the law firm of Jones, Ware & Grenard. In 1988, Hunter was recruited by DuPont de Nemours, where he specialized in patent and environmental law as well as mergers and acquisitions. In 1993, he became the Director of Governmental Affairs for Ascom Timeplex, a position he held until the company closed in 1996. Hunter then co-owned of a janitorial company with Heavyweight Champion Ernie Terrell, which he helped expand to over 900 contracted positions in schools, offices, and police stations throughout the Chicagoland area. He retired from the company in 2012. Charles lived life fully, experiencing all the world offered by travelling to countries in Africa, Asia and Europe. He was an avid sailor, part-time golfer and a musician. Charles’ life was recently featured on The HistoryMakers.com, the largest African American oral history collection.
Charles Hunter will be missed and remembered by his loving wife Karen Ayd Hunter of Chicago, his sons Charles James Hunter II (Pam) of Monee IL, and Robert Williams Hunter and Gregory Earl Hunter, both of Chicago IL, his granddaughters Kyndle Paige Hunter and Kayla Monet Hunter, and great-granddaughter Kamora LaNaya Allison, all of Monee IL, his nephews Erwin Roy Jackson (Sylvia) of Lubbock TX and Earl Roy Jackson II of Chicago IL, his niece Janice Jackson McClain of Chicago IL, his first cousin Vernon Williams (Lee) of Baltimore MD, his three great nieces Teresea Jackson McPherson (Everald) of Orlando, Florida; Janasia McClain Sumlar (Keith) of Champaign, Illinois and Tiffany Jackson (Danza) of San Antonio, Texas; two great nephews Erwin Roy Jackson Jr. of San Antonio, Texas and Jaurique McClain of Chicago, Illinois; Godchildren Maylazia Hunter of Mobile, Alabama and Reginald Roland Jackson (Allison) of Ann Arbor, Michigan and Eulinda Jackson Smith (Moriya) of Tallahassee, Florida; his cousins Andrew (Jeanetta), Gwenda Overton (), Keturah (), andWalter (), and a host of other friends and family. Charles was preceded in death by his brother, Earl Roy Jackson, his mother Maude Williams Hunter, his nephew Charles Roy Jackson, and his great-nephew Jawaun McClain.
A viewing will be held from 1pm to 8pm on January 4, 2019 at Smalls Funeral Home 950 S. Broad St. Mobile AL 36603. The funeral service of worship will be held on January 5, 2018 at 11am at Stone Street Baptist Church 311 Tunstall Street Mobile AL 36603.