Born Thessolina Fontaine Jr., his name was later officially shortened to Thess and he soon became affectionately known by the family as "Junafin." Thess was born January 24, 1968 in Newark, New Jersey to Inez (Thomas) and the late Thessolina Fontaine Sr. Thess was educated within the Newark and Irvington Public Schools. Upon high school graduation, he enlisted into the Army and served in the Army National Guard. He then graduated from DeVry University. Thess later attended Bloomfield College. Thess served as a Chemical Laboratory Technician for the Michael S. Englehardt Company in Edison, New Jersey for several years. Famously known for his piercing light eyes, he clearly only had eyes for his high school sweetheart, Tracey Moore, whom he married in 1997. They relocated to Dekalb, Georgia in 1999 where they raised four (4) children. He continued his career as a Chemical Laboratory Technician and worked for companies such as: PPG, Inc., King's Hawaiian and Quikrete. Thess had a congenial spirit and personified the phrase that he "never met a stranger." Ever so fun-loving, he had the superb ability to make people laugh – no matter what the occasion. Anyone who knew him knew, without question, that he loved his family immensely. He absolutely loved to read and was known to possess extensive knowledge of useless Jeopardy information. Thess leaves to cherish and celebrate his life: his loving wife Tracey; children Gabriy'el, Miyka'el, Semaya and Rafael; granddaughter Layla; mother Inez Fontaine (Charlotte, North Carolina); aunts Gwendolyn Thomas (Newark, New Jersey) and Bessie Fontaine (Statesboro, Georgia); sister Dawn Bailey (Timothy) (Charlotte, North Carolina); nephews Cameron Fontaine, Jared Fontaine (both in Newark, New Jersey), Wesley Fontaine (Charlotte, North Carolina) and Hezekiah Moore (East Orange, New Jersey); nieces Alyse Fontaine, Nyah Fontaine both in Charlotte, North Carolina), Olivia Fontaine (Newark, New Jersey) and Christine Fontaine Lawrenceville, Georgia); four (4) great-nieces; five (5) great-nephews; parents-in-love Barry and Crystal Moore (Irvington, New Jersey); brother-in-love Eric Moore (Irvington, New Jersey); and a host of other relatives and friends.