Charles Butler

A Biography

Charles was born in Corinth, Mississippi. His father, a Baptist preacher, along with his mother, raised ten of their twelve children to adulthood (five girls and five boys). Charles lived most of his life in Arkansas and Missouri, graduating from high school in Kennett, Missouri. He attended and graduated from Arkansas State University, in Jonesboro, Arkansas with a Bachelor of Music Education degree, with an emphasis in both vocal and instrumental music. After college, he attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas, briefly, working toward a Master of Church Music degree.

Mr. Butler has served many years in Baptist Churches in the field of church music, music/youth and music/administration, both part-time and full-time. During his early career, Mr. Butler served as public school director of instrumental music as well as high school choral director.

His years of experience include: First Baptist Church, McGehee, Arkansas; Thayer Missouri Public School System, First Baptist Church Thayer, Missouri; Walnut Street Baptist Church, Jonesboro, Arkansas; First Baptist Church, Harrison, Arkansas; Southside Baptist Church, Lead Hill, Arkansas; North Arkansas College and First Presbyterian Church, Harrison, Arkansas. Prior to retirement, Charles and his wife, Donna, owned and operated Mackie World Travel for twenty-one years, while continuing to serve in area churches in the field of church music.

For the past thirty-five years, Mr. Butler has been an active member of The CenturyMen, (www.thecenturymen.com), a 100 voice men’s choir composed of current or former church musicians. Also, since 1980, he has served as director of the Harrison Community Choir and is currently the handbell choir director at First Presbyterian Church in Harrison.