C. L. Earnest, 96, of Brinson, Ga., passed away Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014 at his residence.
The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014 at Bethany Baptist Church with Rev. Roy Matthews officiating. Interment will follow at Bethany Baptist Church Cemetery with Roger Edmunds, Steve Dean, Jimmy King, Sonny Couver, Doyle Ray, and Don Stead serving as active pallbearers.
The family will receive friends immediately following the graveside service at the cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to Bethany Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 216 Bethany Church Road, Brinson, Georgia 39825.
Mr. Earnest was born Oct. 19, 1917 in Donalsonville, Ga., the son of George Edward Earnest and Lillian Griner Earnest. He was a veteran of the Army Air Corps. serving during World War II. Mr. Earnest was a life-long farmer, proudly served as an aircraft mechanic at Southern Aviation, worked at Dollar Farm Product, and also worked as a school bus driver. He was a member of the Orion Lodge #8 F.&A.M., served as an ASCS Board Member, and attended Bethany Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 75 years, Zenie D. Earnest; his daughter, Barbara Faye Earnest; and his siblings, Nolan Earnest, Catherine Christian, and Leon Earnest
Survivors include his sons, Glenn Earnest and his wife, Melba, of Brinson, and Ray Earnest and his wife, Marsha, of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; his sister-in-law, Doris Earnest of Floral City, Fla; his grandchildren, Drake Earnest and his wife, Erin, of Murfreesboro, Hal Earnest and his wife, Meredyth, of Bainbridge,  and Tray Earnest and his wife, Samantha, of Troy, Ala.; and his great-grandchildren, Skylar Kate Earnest, Gunnar Drake Earnest of Murfreesboro, Owen Durham Earnest, Virginia Bennett Earnest, of Bainbridge; and Penelope Leigh Earnest of Troy..
The family would like to thank Mr. Earnest’s caregivers, Mary Durham, Tracey Beard, and Michelle Hester for their dedication and support.
Ivey Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.