Charles Babe Fountain

Charles passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. He was a loving and devoted husband and father. Juanita, Charles’s wife of 51 years, was at his side throughout his recent cancer battle as well as several similar health battles in their time together.

Charles was born to the late Babe and Lillie Pearl Fountain in Carbur, Fla. The family later relocated to Perry, Fla. With his parents’ blessings, he moved to Jacksonville to live with his Aunt Ella to complete high school. After graduating from New Stanton High School in 1959, he enrolled at Edward Waters College and completed three years there before entering the workforce. Upon moving to Miami, he took a job as a night auditor at the popular Hampton House Motel. There, he met many famous Black celebrities who often chose the Hampton House Motel as their destination. Later, Charles moved to New York City, where he secured a job at E. F. Hutton and was eventually appointed to work on the New York Stock Exchange. He had just begun his new career when he was quickly called up to serve in the United States Army. During his deployment to Vietnam, he served as a communications specialist. After separation from the service, he continued his pursuit of a college degree at Bethune-Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Fla., earning a BS in Business Administration in 1972. There, he met Juanita, who later became his wife after a four-year courtship.

Charles has adapted to several career moves over the years. Upon graduating from Bethune-Cookman College, he was employed as a counselor at Florida State Prison in Starke and later as a Tax Auditor for the State of Florida. In 1987, the Fountains moved to Bloomington-Normal, IL, where they both were employed at Illinois State University. Charles enjoyed his work as a counselor for incoming freshmen, while Juanita taught upperclassmen in the College of Education. The family found the weather in Illinois unbearable, so they returned to Florida and made St. Petersburg their home. In 1991, after taking education certification classes at the University of South Florida - St. Petersburg, Charles found his calling as a Special Education Teacher in the Pinellas County Public School System.

Charles accepted Christ at an early age and has been a lifelong devoted Christian. While living in New York City, he was consecrated as a Missionary under Bishop William H. O’Neil of the First Tabernacle of Deliverance Cathedral of Manhattan in 1967. Throughout his career, he has updated his church membership to reflect changes in his residence. Upon settling down in St. Petersburg, Fla., he chose Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church as his place of worship. In his service to the church community, he was appointed to the Mount Zion School Board.

Charles was regularly active in the St. Petersburg community. He served on the Board of the Sickle Cell Directors’ Association and the Pinellas County Head Start Board. He was also a member of the Ebony Scholars Committee of St. Petersburg. Whenever possible, Charles supported his wife in her various endeavors; consequently, with her encouragement, he joined The Awesome Original Second Time Arounders Marching Band as a flag bearer for a brief period. He also participated in the Florida Senior Olympics for a season.

Spending time at the beach and around water was one of Charles’s more sought-after passions. When the opportunity to live in the waterfront community of Harbourside in South Pasadena became available, Charles simply could not pass up this unexpected blessing to enjoy the peacefulness of this beautiful area. Cooking was another of his many talents. Many of his friends and family members can attest to his expertise in creating delectable dishes that were as pleasing to the palate as they were appealing to the eye. He also enjoyed long walks and observing nature.

Several family members have preceded Charles in death: his father, Babe; his mother, Lillie Pearl Fountain; two sisters, Maude Evans and Lula M. Dickey; two nieces, Doris Williams and Mary Lee Mitchell; one grandniece, Gerdreania Mobley, and six grandnephews, James Rivers, Issac Hugger, Bobby Mitchell, Paul D. Mitchell, Travis Mitchell, Sr., and Nathaniel Williams.

Charles leaves behind his loving wife, Juanita; son, Ivan O. Fountain of St. Petersburg; two sisters, Lillie M. Greene of Perry, Fla. and Ruby M. Dorsey of Jacksonville, Fla.; five nieces, Melissa Griffin (Von), Marissa Armstead, and Pamela McQueen all of Jacksonville, Greneicia Greene of Atlanta, Ga., and Natasha L. Greene of Dallas, Tx.; three nephews, Kelvin Armstead, Walter Armstead (Kesiha) of Jacksonville, and Andre R. Greene of Perry. He is further survived by nine grandnieces, Kadaja Armstead, of Houston, Tx.; Crystal Geddes, Ebony Nelson, Anaya Armstead, Dorothy London, Pamela Pauldo (Robert), Martha Washington, Shirley Johnson (Eddie), Shantal Gray (Lonnie), and Syteria Renee Mitchell all of Jacksonville; thirteen grandnephews, Gregory Cockfield Jr., Jalen Armstead, Jorden Armstead, Jerold Jackson, Andre R. Greene Jr., Robert Rivers II (Margie), Michael Mitchell (Cordelia), Daun Mitchell (Ruth), Anthony Mitchell (Carol), Ronald Mitchell, Arthur Mitchell (Lacendia) all of Jacksonville, Larry Williams (Melissa) of Haines City, and Charles Morse of Winter Park. In addition, there are a host of great-grand and great-great-grand nieces and nephews, cousins, and sorrowful friends.

A graveside service will be held for Charles at Bay Pines National Cemetery.

A Celebration of Life has been scheduled for family and close friends.

In place of flowers, donations can be made to Suncoast Hospice or the American Cancer Society.