Earnest Rlee Willis was born to the late Lennon Willis and Mildred Johnson Willis in Monroe, Louisiana, on August 12, 1939. He peacefully departed this life on Saturday, December 23, 2023.
Earnest had a relationship with God that began when he was a child attending Sunday School at Tabernacle Baptist Church with his aunt Miss Lottie Mae Johnson. For the 11:00 a.m. service, he would attend Riverside around the corner with his mother and the rest of her family. He joined Riverside Baptist Church, where he remained a member until his death.
His education began at Monroe Colored High School, where all grades were taught. High school graduation was completed at Carroll High School in 1957. He later attended Grambling College, now known as Grambling State University, where he received a B.S. Degree in Elementary Education. He had a rich, full life, which included: being one of the first African Americans to become a Deputy Sheriff in Ouachita Parish since Reconstruction, working in Monroe City Hall in the Department of Housing, being the first lead teacher for the lower elementary Title I Reading Program; working as a teacher in the Monroe City School System for 32 years in four separate elementary schools and as a Monroe City Schools bus driver for 47 years. Until his health failed, he took great pride in the jobs he did and would strive to give his best service to each job. His hobbies were: golfing, fishing, hunting, shooting pool, riding motorbikes and horses.
Earnest leaves to cherish his memory a devoted sister, Lynetta Willis Mouton and her two children, Kevin Singleton and Jennifer Mouton Key (Roger); two daughters Avis Arlene Willis and Maria Lynn Johnson; two grandchildren, William Travis, Cyne Thea Travis (Las Vegas, NV); one surrogate niece, Carla Johnson; cousins, Cara Lynn Jackson, Robert Allen (Joan), Charita Davis (frank), Patrick Martin, Rev. Ernest Davis, Jr. (Shelia), Dr. Ronnie Davis (Dianne), Alvin Edmond Davis (Dee), Ivory Davis, Sheron Kay Turner, Rickey Martin (Gwen) and a host of other cousins, family, friends and his Riverside Church family.
