Cynthia Delores Fountain

Cynthia Delores Fountain, affectionately known as "Miss D" or "Aunt D," was born November 5, 1950, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to the late Virginia V. and Reese A. Fountain. The oldest of eleven children, she grew up in Steelton and Harrisburg and graduated from William Penn High School.

Early in life, Delores faced hardship. On March 20, 1959, at the age of nine, she was struck by a car and spent part of her recovery in a full-body cast. The experience became one of several events that shaped her independence and lifelong interest in learning and advocacy.

During her sophomore year at William Penn, Delores petitioned for the admission of girls to the then-all-male Milton Hershey School. Although she was not admitted, she continued to challenge barriers and advocate for women's opportunities. Milton Hershey School later became coeducational in the 1970s.

After high school, Delores worked a variety of jobs. At the Hershey chocolate plant in Hershey, Pennsylvania, she worked nights as one of the first women to scrape dried cocoa from large curing ovens, a job that was reserved for men at the time. At Pomeroy's, she worked as a Fashion Fair consultant. Her sales experience later included Eddie's Men's Shop, Aloe Vera products, the Rose Marie Collection, and Avon. Other employment included the Penn Harris Hotel, where she worked with her brother, Eddie Pitts; Headhunters Hair Salon; and the Mechanicsburg Naval Base.

In the early 1980s, she attended Empire Beauty School in Harrisburg, where she studied cosmetology and beauty culture. She later attended Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC) from 1987 to 1989, where she studied health occupations and nursing assistance. From 1989 to 1994, she continued her education at Penn State University and Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, pursuing nursing studies. Her educational journey included associate, bachelor's, and master's-level studies.

In 2004, Delores received certification as a Health Counselor through the International Board of African Thinkers, Traditional Priests/Priestesses, Healers and Religion. She received sales honors from Forever Living Products, "Aloe Vera of America," a company recognized on Inc. magazine's Inc. 500 list. The Rose Marie Collection also recognized her achievements, and she received an award presented at HACC in appreciation of her service as president of the Black Student Caucus.

For all that she pursued professionally and academically, Delores devoted much of herself to her family. She acted when someone needed help, spoke up when she believed something needed to be said, and often put the needs of those she loved ahead of her own.

Delores is survived by her son and son-in-law, Tiy Fountain and Mark Mazzuchelli; her stepdaughter, Danielle Johnson; her brothers, Charles Vincent, Antonio, Keith, Karl, David, Jeffery, and Brian Fountain, Reese and Eddie Pitts, and Gordon White; her sisters, Carolyn Watson, Tanya King, and Constance Fountain-Wormsley; and her aunts, Phyllis Campbell, Marsh Chambliss, and Elaine Spears. She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, cousins, extended family members, and loved ones, including Gerogie Blackston and Walter Howard "Brother Shango."

She was preceded in death by her son, Shawn Fountain; her parents, Virginia and Reese Fountain; her aunt, Dorothy Hall; and her nephew Quddus

Acknowledgment

Our family is grateful for every prayer, visit, kind word, and gesture of support shared with us during this time. Your presence and thoughtfulness have meant more than we can express. May God's blessings be returned to each of you.

And so it is.

Please keep the family in your thoughts and prayers.