Charles McGehee

Bluefield, WV- Charles Stuart McGehee, 55, of Bluefield, West Virginia, died Tuesday, January 12, 2010. Born February 10th, 1954, in Birmingham, Alabama, he was preceded in death by his parents, the Rev. Charles White McGehee and Jean Devine McGehee. At the time of his death, Dr. McGehee was Professor of History at West Virginia State University, and Archivist of the Eastern Regional Coal Archives, Craft Memorial Library in Bluefield. Educated at the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga and the University of Virginia, where he earned his Masters and Doctorate in American History, Dr. McGehee is best remembered by the success of his students. He served as Chairman of the Division of Social Sciences at Bluefield College, and Chair of the History Department and Dean of the College of Social Science at WVSU. Dr. McGehee was active in the community and in his profession, earning awards of "Professor of the Year" at Bluefield College in 1994, "Citizen of the Year" in Bluefield in 1989, and Delta Kappa Pi "Professor of the Year" at West Virginia State University in 1999. He served on numerous non-profit and charitable boards, as well as Chair of the West Virginia Archives and History Commission for five years. Dr. McGehee wrote five books and his more than fifty articles, essays, and reviews appeared in West Virginia History, Civil War History, The Journal of Southern History, The Tennessee Historical Quarterly, Goldenseal, East Tennessee Historical Publications, Blue Ridge History, Coal People Magazine, and many others regional and national publications. He appeared in the West Virginia History Film, the History Channel's "Modern Marvels" series, as well as numerous PBS documentaries. Dr. McGehee is survived by his son Joseph Thomas McGehee of Bluefield, Virginia. He will be especially missed by his students and colleagues at West Virginia State University, coworkers at Craft Memorial Library, his band mates in the Bluestone Wildcats, and the regulars at the Cold Spot. There will be no memorial service. Stuart asks instead that charitable offerings be given to the Craft Memorial Library, 600 Commerce Street, Bluefield, West Virginia. Those wishing to share memories or e-mail condolences may do so by visiting www.mercerfuneralhome.com Mercer Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the family of Dr. Stuart McGehee.

Charles McGehee

February 10, 1954 - January 12, 2010