Obituary of Charlie Michael Horning

Charlie Michael Horning, lovingly nicknamed Sir Charles and beloved by many, passed away on August 29, 2023. Charlie was born on January 30, 2002 and arrived like a ray of sunshine. He was a silly little guy, who was always eager to help, had a go-getter attitude, and inner strength that followed him throughout his entire life. At 17 he was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and Celiac Disease—two diagnoses that would stop anyone in their tracks. Not our Charlie. In true Charlie fashion, he began kicking butt right away by adapting his lifestyle and forging full steam ahead. To meet him was to love him, but no love was bigger than the love of his family. Eleanor adored him from the moment she met him and worked hard to make sure he and his sister, Megan, had everything they needed. One of the best things that happened to the family was the addition of Christina. She was more than a parent to Charlie; she was his buddy. They bonded over a love of a sports – including running, Ping-Pong, fantasy football, and the Florida Gators. As a family, they moved from Florida to Memphis and in with Eleanor’s mother, Lacy. Charlie loved his grandmother, Nini, and the feeling was mutual. She baked and he enjoyed every bite of her delights. They played late night card games and for a while, would pick a word of the day from her dictionary. She made sure that he looked dapper on his way to school and when he and Megan came home, she ensured they had snacks and finished their homework. Charlie and Megan were close in age and together, honed their sarcasm skills and turned even the most mundane conversations into comedic masterpieces. They created a tapestry of family memories that will be cherished forever. Charlie grew up at the Southern College of Optometry (SCO) – besides being Christina’s employer, SCO was part of a support strong network that helped Eleanor go back to school and graduate with her doctorate in optometry. Many people shared memories of Charlie’s funny personality and of seeing him at campus events. He was a fearless athlete – playing soccer and basketball until his teens, unafraid to play with kids and adults much larger in size, and running track, serving as Christina’s running partner for 5Ks and even a half marathon. In the past few years, he exceled in powerlifting and competed on the powerlifting team at Middle Tennessee State University, where he studied for a degree in, initially, kinesiology. While his passion for powerlifting remained, Charlie changed his major to Logistics after becoming a valued member of the Amazon team. Amazon was more than a job for Charlie – it was a place with many friends that created the foundation for a long-term career and one that fostered his quick math skills and showcased his talents as a natural leader. He had a radiant soul whose smile beamed with the light of a thousand stars, and he leaves a hole in the hearts of every person who knew him. Charlie is survived by so many loving family members and friends, including his devoted moms, Eleanor Null and Christina Newman; his sister, Megan Horning; his grandmother, Lacy Null (Nini); his Uncle, Michael Taylor (LeAnn Logue); his grandparents, Christa and Kurt Newman; his Aunt, Melissa Fernandez (Darren); his nephews, Dylan and Matteo; and his beloved family pets, Fern, Gavin, Alex, and Onyx. He was preceded in death by his furry brother, Harley. In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider making a donation to the SCO at www.sco.edu/give or to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDFR) at https://www.jdrf.org/donate/. If donating to SCO, please note “In Memory of Charlie” in the comments section. Funds donated will be used to support research.