Brother Talmage Fountleroy
Brothers,
It is with a heavy heart that I inform you of the passing of Brother Talmage Fountleroy, #2 on the Charter Line and our chapter’s first Vice-Polemarch. He reached the Golden Shores on July 23, 2002, in Anghiari, Italy. Below is the obituary written in his memory:
ANGHIARI, ITALY – Talmage Randall Fauntleroy, son of Harry and Dorothy Fauntleroy, passed away on July 23, 2002, in Anghiari, Italy, after a brief illness.
Born in Hampton, Virginia, in 1952, Talmage attended the Hampton public schools, graduating from Kecoughtan High in 1971. He went on to pursue higher education at East Carolina University, earning a bachelor's degree in Music, and later attended Howard University, where he earned a master's degree in Voice. Talmage continued his studies at the University of Illinois, shifting his focus from Voice to directing opera.
Talmage traveled to Europe to study the Italian language at the University of Florence, where he made his home for the next decade or more. During his time in Italy, he founded the Studio Lirica, a workshop that allowed students to study and perform opera. After leaving Europe, he became the head of Opera Studies at the University of South Carolina, where he successfully integrated the Studio Lirica into the university's curriculum, transforming it into a four-week training session for young singers, stage directors, and conductors from across the globe.
This year’s summer work session ran from June 21st to July 21st. Talmage had just directed his final program when he suddenly fell ill and passed away. He is survived by his parents, Harry and Dorothy; a sister, Betty; two brothers, Harry Jr. and Raoul; several uncles, aunts, and a host of other family members and friends.
Talmage was laid to rest in the Medieval Tower of Anghiari, located in the Apennine Mountains of Italy's Tuscany region. A memorial service to honor his life will be held on Wednesday, July 31st, at Zion Baptist Church in Hampton, Virginia, at 11 a.m.
May Brother Fauntleroy's legacy continue to inspire us all as we remember his contributions to our chapter, our Fraternity, and his exceptional life’s work. Let us keep his family and loved ones in our thoughts and prayers during this time of loss.
