Charlotte Ponder called Ocala/Marion County home. A beloved wife and mother, she was also a teacher and a realtor, and was active in her community. Sadly, a series of health issues, including limited mobility and loss of most of her vision, made it impossible for her to read books in print. Then Charlotte discovered audiobooks. Her family checked out four to five audiobooks a week from the Marion County Public Library System. Charlotte eagerly listened to them every single day. According to her family, audiobooks filled her days with joy, information and a means to stay connected to the world around her.

In honor of her life and the pleasure she experienced from listening to audiobooks, the family has established the Charlotte Ponder Memorial Fund through the Friends of the Ocala Public Library. Through donations to this fund, the Marion County Public Library System will purchase audiobooks for listeners of all ages, both in CD and e-audiobook formats, to be enjoyed by Marion County residents for years to come.