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Southerland Was Mr. Everything

The Northwest Florida racing community has lost a beloved member.Charlie Southard, known simply as "Tattoo" at Five Flags Speedway, died last Friday after battling a lengthy illness. He was 48.Funeral services for Southard will be held at noon today at Faith Chapel Funeral Home in Cantonment.Southard, a Cantonment resident, worked full time for the Escambia County School Board for many years and worked on the race-day staff at Five Flags.His duties at the track ranged from technical inspector to on-track official."He was the kind of person who would do anything for anyone," said Eddie Mercer, longtime race car driver and automotive dealer in the Pensacola area. "Whether it's helping you work on your race car or helping fix your mother's heater, he was just that kind of person."Mercer visited Southard during a hospital stay in 2005, providing a gift that became a symbol of their friendship: a stuffed monkeyWhen Mercer won the Snowball Derby later that year, the two posed for photos in victory lane with the monkey."I've been friends with Charlie for a long, long time," Mercer said. "Losing Charlie gives new meaning to the old saying that only the good die young because Charlie was probably the best person I have ever known."He will be missed greatly by so many people."Southard worked season races at Five Flags, but because of his declining health in recent years, he had to cut back to work only the Super Late Model races. His final race was the Snowball Derby last December.Southard made many friends at the track, including Five Flags general manager Tim Bryant."Charlie is certainly going to be missed by everyone at Five Flags Speedway," Bryant said. "Not only by the people he worked with, but also the competitors."He had such a likeable personality. Even though he worked on the tech crew and occasionally had to call out infractions on drivers' cars, no one ever had a negative word about him. Everyone liked and respected him. He took his smile with him everywhere he went."Mercer and Terry Watson, another track official at Five Flags, have established the Charlie Southard Benefit Fund.Southard is survived by his parents, Jimmy and Jeannie Southard; two daughters, Amie and Alicia Southard; and two brothers, Tim and Jamie Southard.

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