Charlie Ponders

Charles "Charlie" Ponder July 12, 1940 – June 7, 2026 Charles "Charlie" Ponder, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, mentor, and friend, peacefully departed this life on June 7, 2026, at the age of 85. Charles was born on July 12, 1940, in Atlanta, Georgia, to the late Ozzie and Ruby Ponder. He was born at Grady Hospital “Grady Baby” and spent his early years growing up on Vine Street in Atlanta's historic Sweet Auburn District. His family later relocated to Augusta, Georgia, where he attended Lucy C. Laney High School and graduated with the Class of 1959. Charles dedicated many years of service to the community and retired from the DeKalb County School System. Throughout his life, he was known for his strong work ethic, unwavering faith, and commitment to serving others. A faithful member of New Beginning Full Gospel Baptist Church, Charles served as a devoted Deacon and was an active mentor with the Boys To Men Mentor Ministry. His faith was the cornerstone of his life, and he inspired countless individuals through his example of love, kindness, humility, and service. He was also a proud member of the Lou Walker Senior Center and a respected community volunteer and leader. Charles had a gift for making people feel valued and empowered. He especially enjoyed encouraging and mentoring younger generations, always offering wisdom, guidance, and support. Known affectionately as "The Tie Man," he took pride in his collection of stylish ties and was admired for always being impeccably dressed in his suits and ties. In his leisure time, he enjoyed playing Pinochle and spending time with family and friends. Charles was united in marriage to his beloved wife, Brenda Mann Ponder, and together they built a legacy of love, faith, and family. He leaves to cherish his precious memories his loving wife, “Polly” Brenda Mann Ponder; his children, Subrena (Andrew) Hendrix, Wayne (Tameica) Mann, and Tanya (Mike) Bryant; his grandchildren, Kenneth Bell, Jr., Karl Bell, Tamara Bryant, Treasuyr Ward, and Micah Bryant; and his great-grandchildren, Kristian Bell, Kyle Bell, and Alana Artis. He is also survived by his sisters, Agnes Carpenter Coats and Mary Rosa Johnson, along with a host of nieces, nephews, extended family members, church family, and friends whose lives were blessed by knowing him. Charles' favorite scripture was Philippians 4:13:"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." His legacy of faith, service, compassion, and encouragement will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him. Though he will be deeply missed, his family finds comfort in knowing that he has entered into eternal rest and is now in the presence of the Lord. Link: Join me in supporting Boys to Men Christian Mentors Inc.. It's really easy through @Givelify https://giv.li/z3hick. Let's do #MoreGoodTogether. The Celebration of Life Service for Charlie Ponders will be held on Monday, June 15, 2026 at 1:00 PM. This service will be recorded and streamed live. If the event is interrupted at any time due to technical issues, the entire event will be uploaded and available to view later in the day. Please copy and paste the link to share, or simply click on the link to view the event. https://vimeo.com/event/5994184

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Charlie Ponders

July 12, 1940 - June 7, 2026