Felton, Sr. Charles Anthony, died Thursday, July 25, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia at the age of 75. Felton was born on February 28, 1944 in Midnight, Mississippi to Willie Felton and Myrtis Brown Felton. He was raised in Omaha, Nebraska, and graduated from Omaha Technical High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska Omaha, and his master’s degree from the University of Chicago.
While serving in the Air Force, Felton met his wife of 53 years, Carletha Wells Marshall in Miami, Florida.
Felton moved to St. Petersburg in 1981, when he became the first African-American Director of Corrections for Pinellas County and the first in the State of Florida. In 1992, Felton was nominated by President George H.W. Bush to be the U.S. Marshall for the Middle Dist. of Florida and in 1993, he moved to Miami-Dade County, where he became Director of Corrections.
Charles was preceded in death by his father, Willie Felton, mother, Myrtis Brown Felton Ross, step-father Elbert Ross, brothers James Felton and Roosevelt Felton, sisters Willie Mae Chambers and Earline Simmons and step-sister, Sharon Ross. He is survived by his wife Carletha, children Charles Felton, Jr, Tamara Felton-Howard and Cary Felton, grandchildren Julian Dudley, Brandon Dudley, Kesi Felton, Leah Dudley, Charles Felton III, Kendel Felton and Chloe Felton, brother Melvyn Felton, cousin Thelma Brown; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.