Charles "Chuck" Cawthon

Mr. Charles “Chuck” Cawthon, age 52 of Hartwell, GA passed away on Saturday, November 22, 2025, one year after being diagnosed with brain cancer. He died peacefully at his residence, surrounded by his family. Chuck was born on November 13, 1973, in Royston, GA. to the late Naomi Davis Cawthon and spent most of his childhood with his grandparents, the late JB “Jake” and Tressie Cawthon. His maternal grandparents were the late Clarence and Lola Davis.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 30 years Carolina Cawthon, daughter Tanya Hudson (Micah), son Dave Martin (Lexi Torres), grandchildren Ike McKim, Jay Hudson, and Casimir Torres-Martin, brothers Jamie Cawthon (Catherine), Jason Cawthon (Crystal), and Michael Mason (Julie), nephew Brandon Cawthon (Brooke), and nieces Lindsey Cureton (Tim), Kaylee Bryant (Dylan), Miley Cawthon, Callie Cawthon, and Sara Jane Mason. Chuck treasured his family and would cancel almost any plans on a moment’s notice for the opportunity to spend time with one of his grandchildren, whether babysitting or attending a performance.

Chuck attended Hartwell Elementary, Hart County Junior High, and graduated from Hart County High School. Over the years, he worked as a paraprofessional at Hartwell Elementary, Mt. Olivet Elementary, and Hart Academy. Chuck is most well known for being the founder of Contemporary Martial Arts in Hartwell, Georgia.

After surviving childhood cancer, Chuck was allowed to start Tae Kwon Do classes under the instruction of the late John Cleveland when he was 10 years old. He went on to earn a black belt in Sho-Kushin under David “Chip” Prather of Toccoa, Georgia, and this led him to his life’s work. He founded Contemporary Martial Arts and served as its head instructor from its inception in 1996 until he became too ill in 2025 and cherished the many hours he spent training children and adults from Hartwell and the surrounding communities. Over the years he coached numerous competitors and Contemporary Martial Arts was recognized for consistently producing top competitors in every area of competition they entered.

Chuck was awarded black belts in American Free-Style Karate under Marty Knight of Anderson, South Carolina, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Jimmy Fowler of Inman, South Carolina. In addition to the many champions who trained at Contemporary Martial Arts, the school was ranked in the National Black Belt League Top 25 Sport Karate Schools in 1998, 2002, 2003, and 2004, named Hartwell Business of the Year in 2003 and the Georgia Fighters Gym of the Year in 2014. Chuck was featured in the Martial Arts Industry Association Success Magazine in 2016 and again in 2021, and he was recognized as the Georgia Fighters Trainer of the Year in 2014, 2015, and 2016. Chuck was entered into National Fighting Championships Hall of Fame in 2025. Most recently, Chuck was honored by the city of Hartwell, Georgia which declared November 3, 2025, Chuck Cawthon Day and by the Hart County Chamber of Commerce at the 2025 Christmas tree lighting.

More importantly than training champions and earning professional accolades, Chuck strived to make everyone who walked through the doors at Contemporary Martial Arts feel welcome and to provide the support they needed to reach their fullest potential not only in martial arts, but in life. Through 30+ years of teaching and coaching, lifelong friendships were formed and these relationships remain a treasure to Chuck’s family. During the summer of 2025, Contemporary Martial Arts was sold to one of its first students, Ryan Peace, with a primary goal of carrying on Chuck’s legacy; Coach Ryan will ensure for years to come that Contemporary Martial Arts will remain a place where everyone can come to learn and become the very best version of themselves.

Because of his childhood struggles, Chuck valued making the world a better place for children. To that end, in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a favorite children’s charity. We suggest one of the following organizations: Toughest Kids Inc, PO Box 1218, Hartwell, GA 30643; Hart County Special Olympics, 59 Fifth Street, Hartwell, GA 30643; The Trevor Project, PO Box 69232, West Hollywood, CA 90069.

The family will receive friends on Saturday, December 13, 2025, from 1:00 – 3:00 PM at the Hartwell First Methodist Church Gymnasium. A celebration of Chuck’s life will begin at 3:30 PM. The service will also be live streamed by Coile and Hall Funeral Directors. The family respectfully asks that anyone who may have Contemporary Martial Arts apparel, to please wear it in Chuck’s honor. The service will include time for those who wish to share memories so please bring your favorite story.

Services have been entrusted to Coile and Hall Funeral Directors and Crematory of 333 E. Johnson Street, Hartwell, GA.