Pastor Charles William Cannon was born on December 17, 1947, in Birmingham, AL to Mae Dell Cannon Fuller and the late Johnny James fuller. He was the second oldest child of nine children. He confessed Christ at an early age and joined First Baptist Church of Powderly. He received his early education at Powderly Elementary and Wenonah High School. After completing high school, he joined the United States Marine Corp. During his enlistment, he served in the Vietnam War, in which he was severely injured and awarded a Purple Heart. After returning home and enduring a lengthy recovery, he later went on to become a long-time community leader and activist in rural black communities, helping many disadvantaged men, women, and children overcome financial hardships and educational barriers, while building self esteem among them.

He later gained employment at U.S. Steel in Fairfield, AL. During that employment, he sustained a lengthy, life-threatening injury, which he overcame. After his recovery, he pursued an education at Virginia Tech College in Birmingham, AL in electronics. He also studied technology at Birmingham Baptist Bible College.

He later joined Greater New Bethel Baptist Church in Inglenook, AL, under the leadership of Reverend Raymond McDonald. He became a superintendent of Sunday school and a deacon under Reverend McDonald. He was later ordained as a minister, and then elected Pastor of Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church, where he faithfully served for more than 17 years.

Pastor Cannon proudly and faithfully served God, his country, family, community, and church family, until he succumbed to his illness on July 9, 2017 at 9:45 a.m. at VA Medical Center in Birmingham, AL. He was proceeded in death by his loving and devoted aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Tate and his father Johnny James Fuller, of Birmingham, AL.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 on July 14, 2017 at Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church with burial at the Alabama National Cemetery.