CHARLES ALTON DODSON, age 72, a resident of New York, New York, formerly of Charleston, died Monday, September 27, 2021 at Harlem Hospital in New York.

Alton was born December 30, 1948 in Cairo, IL to Lentice Mercer Dodson and Althea Burke Dodson. Following his graduation from Charleston High School in 1966, he enrolled in Southeast Missouri State University where he obtained degrees for a double major in Math and English.  He taught school in Green Cove Springs, FL for 3 years, then decided to enroll in Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, OH where he received his Master Degree and PhD in English Literature. He was asked to join the faculty after his graduation and taught there until 1978.

He then moved to New York City where he was a writer/editor for a daily Insurance Insider newsletter gathering his news each morning from the newspapers of major cities throughout the United States.  In addition to that career, he was an editor for standardized board testing for professional careers such as Attorney at Law.

He was a large patron of the many arts indigenous to New York; ballet, theatre, symphony, and museums. He truly enjoyed his involvement and support of the cultural pallet of this metro city.

He is survived by three brothers, Burke (Cherie) Dodson and Ronald Dodson all of Charleston, and Richard Dodson of Imperial MO ; also three nieces, Courtney Rottinghaus, Ali Dodson, Ricalina Dodson.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 18, 2021, at the McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston from 1:30 p.m. until the Memorial Service at 2:00 p.m. Oliver French of Charleston and Claudia Arington of Dogwood will serve as Eulogists.

Interment will follow in the I.O.O.F. Cemetery under the direction of McMikle Funeral Home.

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com .