Chester J. Fultz

April 21, 2022

Chester J. Fultz born March 30, 1946 passed away April 21, 2022 and after a long and courageous battle succumbing to cancer. He is proceeded in death by is mother Sara Gibbs, his father Otis Fultz and his brother Philip Fultz. Chester loved the arts and dedicated his life to it. In his youth he studied ballet in Europe. During college he studied voice and has performed throughout his life at different churches. He has a high counter tenor voice and was in demand. He was passionate about the voice and later in life he began teaching voice lessons. He used his knowledge, understanding and experience in his lessons changing his student’s lives. Whether he was dancing with Diana Ross or sitting in the seats of Carnegie Hall his life was full with the sounds he loved and the people he adored. Chester was the longtime Regional Director of the Office of Information and Public Affairs (OIPA) for the U.S. Department of Labor’s New York Region. He was perhaps the most well-known person internally, among the media and other outside entities. For the Department of Labor he wrote news releases on enforcement cases and litigation. He did many interviews and coordinated agency initiatives with local and national print, broadcast media and wrote public service and other announcements. Chester expertly handled the vast array of public affairs responsibilities. As a gifted writer he wrote several plays, poems and co-wrote with Shailah Edmonds “The Shailah Edmonds Story.” He was in the process of writing his memoirs when he passed. He was on the front lines of the civil rights movement and was there when Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his speech in Washington. He took to heart and was very serious about the inequalities, troubles and struggles of others. He took them personally. He loved to study, read and he knew history first hand. Eventually his body got in the way of his activism and he had to use his energy to fight cancer and was a proud cancer survivor for over 25 years. He will always be remembered as an elegant cultured man who always was immaculately dressed in the best of taste. A perfect gentleman. He was unfailingly kind, thoughtful, considerate, generous and compassionate. He was easy to talk to and a good listener always ready to share his advice and insights. He was always kind and loyal to his friends and he touched the lives of many. To his dear friends and associates your love, caring and concern was immeasurable to him and he held each of you close to his heart. He will be laid to rest May 2 2022 at Ferncliff Cemetery. A memorial service is being planned and more information about it will be coming.