Charles B. Saunders' Obituary
In Loving Memory
Charles Bradshaw Saunders, Sr. lived for nearly ninety-five years. If there is an overarching sentiment for
his near-century of life, it would be that he lived well, partnered well, raised his children well, stewarded
his grandchildren well, and served his nation well. Having lived for so long, Charlie, as he was
affectionately known as Charlie to all his friends and family, is best remembered by his loved ones and
friends for the impressions and impact he made across the many decades. By the end of his life, he sat
atop a family that spanned four generations and was the longest-living of his.
He was born the second youngest child to the late Robert Warren and Sarah Wyatt Saunders. He grew up
as a baby boy of seven siblings, including five sisters, Bernice, Dolores, Florence, Marlene, and Marion,
and two older brothers, James (Reed) and Robert (Bobby).
Raised in Roselle, New Jersey, Charles joined the United States Air Force after graduating from Abraham
Clark High School in 1947, inspired by his older brothers' service. He served his country in the Korean
War and was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant. While in the service, Charles met the love of his
life, Olivia Langford, and a courtship began. They were married on May 16, 1953, and were blessed with
two children.
For his son, Brad, and daughter, Betty, there was Charles Saunders, Senior, of an earlier era, who was a
stricter "Dad" than he was "Pop Pop." He worked long hours alongside his schoolteacher wife to provide
guidance and stability. Similarly, for his nieces and nephews, theirs was the "Uncle Charlie," who was the
master entertainer, sharp dresser, and a paragon of an upwardly mobile African American man, someone
who, though there weren't many frames for it, possessed an easy, calm, and confident demeanor.
Someone like Harry Belafonte or Sidney Portier.
Charles began working for the New York and New Jersey Port of Authority as a police officer at JF
Kennedy Airport. He later was promoted to Operations Manager at Newark International Airport until
retirement in 1986. During these years, his love of flying began, and he and his brothers James (Reed) and
Robert (Bobby) later purchased an old plane. Throughout his life, he also owned four impressive boats, all
affectionately named Sara E in dedication to his mother.
Ever a public servant, Charles investigated violations of civil rights law as he served on the Fair Housing
Committee of the NAACP. He attended the March on Washington and served on the Congress of Racial
Equality(CORE). He was a member of the Masons and Shriner Organization. He also was a volunteer
fireman for the town of Roselle and a Boy Scout and Sea Scout leader. He and his wife Olivia attended
Second Baptist Church, where his love of God inspired his life of dedicated service. He served on their
Board of Trustees until they retired to Cape Coral, Florida, where they found several church homes. His
retirement was remarkably active, and he continued pursuing his loves of fishing, boating, and flying. He
served on the Coast Guard Auxiliary and was a member of the American Legion Post 192 of Fort Myers,
Florida, and the VFW Post 8463 of Cape Coral, Florida. He also committed to serving his new community.
Born in the depths of the Great Depression and to a country whose racism had shown up in harsh ways
across his life, Charles was insistent about expanding opportunity, especially to African American
communities. Through the Quality of Life Center, a non-profit organization through which he worked to
support underprivileged children of the Dunbar, Ft. Myers community, including by driving the
conversion of a former nightclub into a daycare, elementary school, and community center. He was
known particularly for his insistence on providing opportunities for youth to experience dimensions of
life that were all too distant, such as flying in a small plane, piloting a boat, or having the support to
pursue a college education.
In the eyes of his four grandchildren, Brandice, Toi, Darius, and Alicia, who arrived in this world in a neat
succession, with each nearly three years of age different from their predecessor, there will always be the
image of the "Pop Pop" of 1229 El Dorado Parkway Southeast; that of a fit, seventy-something who
dressed daily in crisp khaki pants, t-shirt, sneakers, and stiff, navy-blue hats with Air Force and Korean
War Veteran insignia, he was the grandfather who might invite you to join him on one of his morning
walks and would leave you panting in his dust in the heat of the Floridian summers. He was the person
who would meet you at the airport at the beginning of a long summer or ask you, "What have you done
constructively today?" In retirement, Pop barely spent more than an hour at rest each day between
working on his house, in his garage, on his boats, or outside his community. He was a man in perpetual
motion.
You can almost imagine him still, sauntering down to his dock to lower his boat into the canal, extending
a hand overboard to bring his wife Olivia and his friends on board, and then moving up to the command
deck where he was most in his element, expertly navigating his boat out of the canal system until it was
time to power up to cruising speeds, moving the surrounding air vigorously through the cabin as palm
trees and small island landscapes passed by in the distance.
For their fiftieth wedding anniversary, during a cruise to Alaska and Canada and in the presence of
friends, Charles and Olivia renewed their vows "to have and to hold...for better or worse, for richer or
poorer, in sickness or health, to love and to cherish till death do us part."
Later, as Charles celebrated his ninetieth birthday surrounded by loved ones, he was moved to tears, only
to be followed by laughter when his wife shared a heartfelt sentiment. It was a moment that encapsulated
the love and admiration that he had earned over his lifetime. His dearest friend, Mister Rueben West,
summed it up succinctly during a visit in Charles' final weeks stating, "He's the greatest man I've ever
known." Charles passed away on July 2, 2024, after bravely battling dementia.
In his final year, he received exceptional care from devoted caretakers Breidys, Yusy, Selena, and Leslie,
who affectionately called him Papi (and by Sharda, Shallah, Tiffany, and Ritha before them), as well as
from his grandson and daughter, who lovingly tended to him, reciprocating the care and love they had
always received from him. He will forever be cherished as one half of a harmonious partnership: "Mom
and Dad"; "Mema and Pop Pop"; "Aunt Liv and Uncle Charlie." Charles is preceded in death by his
beloved wife, Olivia, of 69 years, by a great-granddaughter, Royal Grace Olivia Hampton, and by all his
siblings.
He is survived by his son, Charles B. Saunders Jr (Brad), his wife, Audrey, and his daughter, Betty
Saunders, as well as four grandchildren, Brandice Hampton (and husband Kevin Hampton), Toi Walker
(and husband Rashad Walker), Darius Callier, and Alicia Goods (and husband Lawrence Goods). He
leaves to cherish eight additional great-grandchildren, Jacksyn Walker, Aubrey Goods, Josiah Goods,
Jacob Goods, Jordyn Walker, Nova Hampton, Ayla Goods, and Saint Goods. He also leaves to cherish a
host of nieces and nephews and his dear friends Mr. Reuben and Mrs. Dorothy West
What’s your fondest memory of Charles?
What’s a lesson you learned from Charles?
Share a story where Charles' kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Charles you’ll never forget.
How did Charles make you smile?
