Mississippi Rep. Charles Young, Jr. passed away at a Jackson hospital on Thursday evening, according to a local TV report from his home district.
Young, 62, was a Democrat who was first elected to represent the 82nd District in 2012. His district encompassed a portion of Lauderdale County, including the city of Meridian. WTOK was the first to report his passing, although no information on the cause of death has been provided at this time.
Being elected to four terms in the House, Young followed in the political footsteps of his father, Charles Young, Sr. The elder Young served in the legislature from 1980 until his death in 2009, representing the same district his son would go on to serve.
According to his biography, Young worked avidly to further resources for Lauderdale County through his role as a lawmaker. He also was a stout advocate for human rights and proudly supported Mississippi moving away from a state flag that contained a Confederate battle emblem in 2020.
During his final session in 2024, Young served as vice chair of the House Corrections Committee. He was also a member of the House Appropriations A, House Appropriations C, House Ethics, House Public Health and Human Services, House Medicaid, and House Universities and Colleges committees.
Occupationally, Young was in the field of cosmetic sales. His grandfather, E.F. Young, Jr. founded a Meridian cosmetics firm and a hotel that served as a haven during the state’s segregation era.
Per state law, Gov. Tate Reeves has 30 days to set a date for a special election to fill the vacancy in the legislature. Young is the second lawmaker to pass away this month as Republican Rep. Andy Stepp died at the age of 66 on Dec. 4.
