Mr. Ernest Lee Gibson, Jr.

Ernest Lee Gibson, Jr. was born on May 6, 1956, to the union of Ella Mae and Ernest Lee Gibson, Sr. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Ernest would become the sixth of his mother's sixteen children and would embody all the love, faith, and ambition of the family. Ernest received his formal education in Milwaukee Public Schools, where he would eventually attend Washington High School. Led by the religiosity of his parents, Ella Mae and Ernest Sr., and rooted in the spiritual grounding of generations before him, Ernest came to know God and Christ early on in his childhood. His faith was nurtured in the longstanding traditions of the Black Baptist Church, where he received his earliest teachings on the importance of living a life of service. Ernest's commitment to service, first born in the church, would transfer over to his country. As a young man, he became a soldier of the oldest branch of the U.S. Military, serving in the United States Army. In June of 1976, he was honorably discharged by President Gerald Ford through the highest office of the United States. The dedication to service so to Ernest's nature also motivated his professional life. He spent of his career in the medical field, helping the most vulnerable in capacity as a certified nursing assistant. He worked in various institutions, always making certain to leave a life a bit better than he found it, always bringing hope and happiness to the patients to which he tended. Ernest believed in family, and he believed in love. He was blessed to experience both throughout his life. He had three beautiful children. Through love, he fathered Nicole and Ernest L. Gibson III with their amazing mother, Deborah Jones, and Ernest L. Gibson IV with his wonderful mother, the late Brenda Tabor. Ernest loved God, family, and humanity. He also loved joy: he loved happiness. He loved big stylish hats, fancy and eye-catching colorful clothing, dancing, smiling, and laughing. And he loved jazz. He loved music. He lived in music. He moved through life just like a Summer Breeze (one of his favorite songs). On the morning of August 28,2024, at 8:18 am, Ernest took rest from this Earthly realm and his spirit ascended into the divine presence of God. He was preceded in death by his grandmother, Octavia B. Dukes; parents, Ella Mae and Ernest L. Gibson Sr.; brothers, Kenneth and Jerome Nelms; sister, Linda Gibson; Michael R. Gibson, and Bobby Trammell. Ernest leaves to cherish his memory, his beloved children - Nicole Gibson (Hassan Wiley), Ernest 1. Gibson III (Ezell Allen), and Ernest 1. Gibson IV; aunt - Jane Burleson; sisters - Vernell Taylor Brown (Terrance), Sheila Gibson, Yolanda Gibson (Craig Brooks), Deborah Gibson, Stephanie Spicer (Gary), Pamela Berkhalter, Tammy Gibson, and Vanessa Gibson; brothers - Benny Nelms, Dale Gibson (Annie), Nathaniel Gibson, and Michael Gibson; grandchildren, Kamyya Gibson, Tiara Wiley, and Emir Gibson; a dynamic bunch of cousins, nieces, an nephews; extended the Hicks; best friend, Daryl Griffin and a number of close friends.

Mr. Ernest Lee Gibson, Jr.

May 6, 1956 - August 28, 2024