The Rev. Canon Charles Britton Fulton Jr.

“Leadership is caught, not taught.” Though he didn’t coin that phrase, it’s one that became a way of life for the Rev. Charles B. Fulton, who mentored countless people in business, ministry and in his personal life. It was a trait that extended even to the end of his life, and even while he battled a lengthy illness. On Monday, December 12, as he and his wife were making plans for their favorite season – Christmas – Father Fulton died suddenly at home with his wife, Carolyn, at his side. “I called him on Friday to get help with something I was dealing with at church,” said the Rev. Gary Jordan, pastor of Holy Trinity Anglican Church. “He was as sharp as ever, and he had a lot of good advice to give me.” Leadership seemed to be Father Fulton’s forte and the evidence of that is spread throughout a lifetime. He was born on April 30, 1938, in West Palm Beach, Fla., to Charles and Imogene Fulton. After high school, he attended Stetson University, where he majored in business and initially had plans to follow his father into practicing law. However, a conversion experience at a Billy Graham Crusade led him to believe that he was being called into full-time ministry, and instead of law school, he attended Yale Divinity School. In December 1964, he was ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Church. Throughout his career, Father Fulton shepherded several Episcopal churches and saw them experience growth during his tenure, including St. Mary’s (Palmetto, Fla.), St. Andrew’s (Fort Pierce, Fla.), Church of the Holy Spirit (Osprey, Fla.), St. Peter’s (Jacksonville, Fla.) and St. Jude’s (Marietta, Ga.). He most recently served as the senior priest for Holy Trinity, an Anglican church in Marietta. In 1974, Father Fulton moved to Pennsylvania to work for Snelling and Snelling, which at the time was the world’s largest employment agency. During his time there, Father Fulton helped Snelling experience tremendous growth and ultimately ascended to the position of Executive Vice President. The company moved in 1976 to Sarasota, Fla., and in 1981, he decided to return to full-time ministry, and at that time founded Church of the Holy Spirit in Osprey. Father Fulton’s leadership and success extended outside of churches, particularly at ACTS 29 Ministries, where he served as president from 1993 to 2002. While at ACTS 29, he helped expand the ministry’s Leadership Training Institute and Clergy Leadership Training Institute, which taught and mentored clergy and church leaders across the country. During this time, he also wrote three books: Reflections on the Run, Touched by the Spirit and The River of Healing. Part of Father Fulton’s ministry success was due to his partnership with his wife, Judy, whom he married in 1974. His leadership and preaching, matched with her musical and artistic prowess, paid enormous dividends over the years. At St. Peter’s and later at St. Jude’s, he served as the senior priest while she led worship and the choir. A bout with cancer took her home to be with the Lord in 2007. Father Fulton in 2009 married again, this time to Carolyn, who came to share his lifelong passion for horses. Together, they raised and trained Tennessee Walking Horses at their home in Alpharetta, Ga., and they served together in ministry at Holy Trinity Anglican Church. In addition to his wife, Judy, Father Fulton was also preceded in death by his parents and his younger brother, Doug Fulton. Throughout his life, Father Fulton had a host of roles of varying importance: priest, soldier, businessman, landscaper, cattle rancher, horseman, author, leadership consultant. But other than being a Christian, perhaps no roles meant as much to him as the ones that left his most lasting legacy: husband, father and grandfather. Father Fulton leaves behind a family that includes his wife, Carolyn; three daughters, Holly Fulton (David) of Fleming Island, Fla., Susan Osgood (David) of Vero Beach, Fla., and Cheryl Mosley (Brandon) of Nocatee, Fla.; two sons, Jeffrey DeBolt (Paige) of Niceville, Fla., and Doug DeBolt (Daryl) of Jacksonville, Fla.; a stepdaughter, Lea Fisher (David) of Marietta, Ga.; 15 grandchildren and three great- grandchildren. Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, December 18, First United Methodist Church in Marietta, Ga. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.

The Rev. Canon Charles Britton Fulton Jr.

April 30, 1938 - December 12, 2022