Charles (Charlie) F. Mixon, Jr. passed away on January 6, 2024, following a short illness with cancer. He was born in Seminole, Florida and moved to Tampa when he was 14 years old. "Charlie" attended Sulphur Springs Junior High and graduated from Hillsborough High in 1951. He was named Quarterback of the Year in 1951 by the Tampa Tribune. He was awarded a scholarship in track at FSU where he subsequently graduated after four years. Charles immediately enrolled at Stetson Law school and received his Juris Doctor in 1956. After graduation, he joined the Florida Bar (1960) and began practicing law in Tampa where he worked until his retirement in 2016.

Charlie was an avid supporter of Florida State University and was elected President of the FSU Alumni Association. He continued to support FSU throughout his professional career. However, hunting and fishing were his favorite pastimes. Having grown up near the mangroves around Clearwater, Madeira, and Indian Rocks beaches he and his father would spend time every week of his young life "casting a net" and hauling in bushel bags loaded with mullet. When he began practicing law, he acquired a boat and ventured into fishing for trout, redfish, and his favorite speckled perch. He and his wife Nancy Hubbell had a 'fish shack' at Lake Marion near Yeehaw Junction where they stayed multiple weeks a year terrorizing perch and bluegills.

Charlie loved to hunt and from an early age and could be found most late afternoons tramping around orange groves in Seminole looking for rabbits and squirrels. He would have his dad drive the car and he and his sister (Sandy, a cheerleader at Hillsborough High) would ride on the front fenders looking for unsuspecting rabbits which became supper.

He married Nancy Hubbell, from Ruskin, a practicing accountant in Sun City. She later graduated from Stetson Law School and opened a practice specializing in estate law alongside Charlie. They worked together at that location for 30 years. Even though the main office was in Tampa they lived in Apollo Beach along with their favorite cat Max (which Charlie hated).

His longest working employee Netti Senisse probably knew him best. When she was interviewed for the job at 19 years of age he told her, "I cuss, drink and smoke. If you have a problem with any of these don't work here." She didn't and worked with him for 35 years. Many of his colleagues have said he was one of a kind. Charlie was a seasoned trial lawyer, handled many diverse cases and was a zealous advocate in the courtroom. His wisdom, guidance, laughter, friendship and larger than life presence will be missed.
According to many lawyers, he was a great litigator, aggressive, quick witted and always prepared for trial. He loved trials and enjoyed his winning reputation. He specialized in criminal, family, and personal injury law. One story that illustrates this occurred during a trial. On two occasions the judge told him to quit intimidating the witness and go back to his seat. On the third time the judge admonished him again to which Charlie replied, "Your Honor, my ears are hearing you, but my feet aren't listening." The courtroom laughed hysterically. During another case a judge told him to examine the witnesses last because she needed time to write down 'Mixonisms". One such Mixonism was when Charlie quoted a rule to make a point. The opposing counsel asked where the rule could be located. Charlie replied, "I am referring to the Mixon Rule."

Charlie wasn't a boastful or pompous person. When he retired several years ago, he had one plaque on his office wall. It was the 50-year award from the Florida Bar Association. He genuinely loved the practice of law!

Charlie will be remembered by his loving and tolerant wife Nancy; his three children, Dean Mixon of Tampa, Cheri Erikson of Atlanta; Mark Mixon from Cocoa, and granddaughter Kristin Kellin-Ross and finally, his siblings Sandra Malone of Tampa and Dr. Johnny Mixon from Tallahassee. He was preceded in death by his other granddaughter Brittany Ann McLeod of Tampa.

We hope to see you at the Celebration of Life on Friday February 2, 2024, at:
Columbia Restaurant
Centennial Museum Room
2029 East 7th Ave.
Tampa, FL
5:30 – 9:30 p.m.