Ernest S. Williams went home to be with the Lord in the afternoon on September 2, 2010. He was born March 18, 1918 to the late James and Estelle Green Williams in the Bowling Brook section of Norfolk, Virginia. From this union, five children were born. All of Ernest's brothers and sister preceded him in death.
Ernest dedicated his life to following the teachings of Jesus at his family Church, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Norfolk. After marrying, he joined New Central Baptist Church where he and Earle could worship together with their son, Michael. Ernest was very active at New Central, always greeting others with his broad smile until his failing health prevented him from attending Sunday worship services. As a faithful member of New Central Baptist Church for over fifty years, Ernest served as a past Superintendent of Sunday School, and member of the men's fellowship committee, financial committee, hospitality committee, Ward 8, Gleaners Bible Study Class and the Payne-Lamb Altar Guild.
He graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk where he was active in the student government and intramural sports. Ernest enjoyed playing baseball on his neighborhood team, the Bowling Brook Aces. It was there in high school where he met his sweetheart, the late Earle Harris Williams, whom he later married after graduating from Virginia Union College in Richmond, Virginia. While in college, Ernest, the athlete, played as a guard on Virginia Union's football team and majored in history. He was a World War II Army veteran and retired clerk with the United States Postal Service . Ernest was a member of the Ebenezer Masonic Lodge 66, Chesterfield Social Club and the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity for sixty-nine years.
Ernest and Earle were married and honeymooned during the Christmas holidays of 1947. To commemorate the celebration of their life together, their automobile license plate was " XMAS 47". They built their dream house just four blocks from the church. Ernest and Earle resided on Walker Avenue with their son, Mike until their recent deaths.
Ernest was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Earle Harris Williams; his sister, Ellen Whichard; three brothers, Clinton, James and Leroy Williams and sister in- law Erma Hoggard. Left to cherish his memories are his son, Michael Williams of Norfolk; niece Sharon Williams ( New York); nephews Tyrone Williams ( North Carolina), Karl Williams (North Carolina) and Jeff Williams ( New York); special cousins Lucille Lattimore ( Norfolk), Christine Newby ( Va. Beach), Nettie Anderson ( Portsmouth), Clyde Harrison( Norfolk); In-laws, Alease Harris, Velma Bynum and Russell Hoggard , all of Norfolk; along with a host of other nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Thursday at New Central Baptist Church. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 6 – 8 pm at Pretlow and Sons Funeral Home, Chesapeake. We invite you to send a condolence message is in the family's guestbook at www.pretlowandsons.com .