2024 Charity Ball King:
Dr. Charles Samuel Rhea
Known by many names - Charles, Charlie, Chuckles, Dr. Rhea, Doc - the names most meaningful to him are husband, Daddy, and now King of the Columbus Junior Auxiliary Charity Ball.
Dr. Rhea says, “It is with great honor and humility that I serve this wonderful organization and its supporters. I am thrilled to be listed among the many accomplished gentlemen and ladies who were selected as Royalty for the JA Balls. I thank each of you for this amazing opportunity.”
Dr. Charlie has been married to Bette Taylor Rhea for 53-1/2 years. He is the proud father of Barry Rhea (wife Lauren) and Taylor Rhea Lane, who both live in Birmingham. He is “Andaddy” to his precious grands - Charley Rhea Warren (husband Chase), Caden Rhea, Elizabeth Rhea, and London Lane.
Charlie began his practice of Orthopaedics in Columbus in 1980, becoming the first partner of former King, Dr. Wiley Hutchins. Charlie and Wiley first practiced in the old Columbus Hospital in a tiny office with a 10 seat waiting room. As demand grew, Charlie and Wiley set a goal to provide the most up-to-date and comprehensive orthopaedic medical facility for the people of North Mississippi so they built their clinic on 5th Street near the hospital.
As the practice continued to grow, the goal was to recruit the best and brightest physicians. This led to the addition of wonderful new partners, the recruitment of Columbus’ first full-time outpatient physical therapist, and the building of Columbus Therapy and Sports Medicine. The group quickly outgrew their 5th Street facility so they built Mississippi’s first single-specialty Orthopaedic Outpatient Surgery Center and later the new Clinic, both on Hospital Drive. Since 1980, Charlie has treated thousands of patients until his retirement after 35 years.
An experience at the North MS Walk to Emmaus more than 25 years ago led Charlie to commit to sharing his faith through prayer with his surgical patients and their families. Many of you here tonight have been comforted by his humble prayer.
Charlie is now happily retired and can most often be seen wearing camo, scrubs, or his signature jeans and sweatshirt. He is happy to put on his “penguin suit” tonight and escort the lovely and extremely accomplished Queen Rayne Phillips as they are surrounded by such a delightful court of high school seniors and the pages.
Education and Professional Accomplishments:
Dr. Charlie graduated from Aberdeen High School and then the University of Mississippi with a Biology major and Chemistry minor. He attended the University of Mississippi Medical School, where he was awarded the Rutledge Award for top general surgery as a 4th year medical student. He continued his training by completing a General Surgery Internship followed by a Residency in Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of MS Medical Center. He next trained in Duisburg, Germany and Bern, Switzerland earning a Fellowship in Trauma and Adult Reconstruction before moving to Columbus.
Dr. Rhea is Board Certified in both Orthopaedic Surgery and Hand and Upper Extremity. He has served as a member and Diplomat with the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. He is the former President of the MS Orthopaedic Society. He is a member of the American Association of Hand Surgery. He formerly served as President of the MS Orthopaedic Alumni Association.
He served on the University of MS Medical School’s Alumni Board and was a charter member of the UMMC’s Foundation, the Guardian Society. He served as Mississippi’s representative to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery Leadership Conference.
Dr. Rhea is a member of First Baptist Church where he is an active Deacon and former Chairman. He is the Facilitator for a Thursday morning “Man Church” men’s Bible Study, a program of Rick Burgess Ministries. He has served on numerous committees, and he is a participant in the Watchman Prayer Ministry. He has served on 15 Teams and as Lay Director for the North MS Walk to Emmaus in Grenada.
Work with Children:
Charlie and Bette have been privileged to support the Junior Auxiliary for many years. Bette is a former President and served as Chairman of the very first Camp Rising Sun. Their children both were in the Court while in high school.
Charlie has always had a desire to protect the health and welfare of the children of Lowndes County. Many years ago he initiated a school scoliosis screening program in conjunction with Columbus Junior Auxiliary and served as its Medical Director.
Charlie is very proud of recent work done in conjunction with the Crime and Addiction Task Force of Columbus who successfully got Kratom, an addictive and potentially deadly plant product that was being sold without restriction, declared illegal in Columbus, Lowndes County, and 42 municipalities in MS. Charlie and members of the Task Force made presentations around the State to promote the banning of Kratom and presented to the Joint Drug Committee of the MS House/Senate along with the MS Medical Association and the Bureau of Narcotics.
In 1983 Charlie and Dr. Hutchins were invited to serve as Team Physicians for the Mississippi State University Athletic Department. Through the years the physicians of Columbus Orthopaedic Clinic have performed participation physicals for MSU athletes as well as treated injuries sustained in sporting events. This served as a model for the doctors and physical therapists at Columbus Orthopaedic Clinic to establish a screening program for high school athletes in Columbus and the surrounding area that offered free sports participation physicals and Saturday morning post-game football injury clinics.
Charlie is a member of Global Scholars, a program that supports leaders world-wide to promote Christian education in secular colleges and universities. Charlie serves with Fathers in the Field, a mentoring program for young boys without a father in the home. He is a volunteer with First Baptist’s annual Halloween Trunk or Treat, the Christmas Festival, Operation Christmas Child, and the church’s initiative at Joe Cook Elementary.
Charlie supports Creating a Mighty Generation, a ministry and orphanage in India. Additionally, Charlie has participated as a lecturer at the MSU Sports Medicine Conference, and he lectures annually to the Nurse Practitioner Program at the MUW School of Nursing. He and Bette funded a Motor Skills Simulation Laboratory at Mississippi’s Medical School that allows students and Residents to practice surgical techniques outside the operating room.
Charlie was a co-founder and former Chairman of Quail Unlimited of Lowndes County, and he is a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited, the Bulldog Club, the Columbus/Lowndes Historical Society, Magnolia Tennis Club, and Old Waverly Golf Club. Charlie and Bette are supporters of United Way, Last House on the Block, First Book, Loaves and Fishes, and various other charities.
He offers his highest praise and great congratulations to Queen Rayne and looks forward to following her path as she transitions from college to a career in Birmingham.
Charlie thanks Columbus Junior Auxiliary and all the ladies who have been so helpful in this Royalty process. He commends Junior Auxiliary as they continue to be innovative in developing new projects and servicing existing ones to better benefit the children of Columbus and Lowndes County.
