BILLY RAY "BILL" EARNEST

Billy Ray “Bill” Earnest, age 71, of Donalsonville, GA passed away Tuesday morning, August 1, 2017 at his residence. Funeral services for Mr. Earnest will be held on Thursday evening, August 3, 2017 at 6:30 PM at Spring Creek Baptist Church with Rev. Jimmy Dean officiating. Rev. Richard Trawick and Craig Earnest will give eulogies. Interment will follow in the church cemetery with Tony Johnson, Dewey White, Craig Earnest, Mark Earnest, Scott Adams, and Benny Hodges serving as active casketbearers. Honorary casketbearers will be his IBEW Brothers and members of SCHS class of 1965. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at 5:30 PM. The family will also be receiving friends at their home. Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to Kindred Hospice 432 East Shotwell Street Bainbridge, GA 39817 or to St. Jude’s Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 or stjude.org. Mr. Earnest was born July 4, 1946 in Donalsonville, GA to Hoke S. and Vera White Earnest. He graduated from Seminole County High School in 1965 and in 1966 attended Albany Technical School for the Electrical School Program. Bill and Joyce married in 1967. He was a member of IBEW Locals 1531 and 443. As a journeyman, Bill traveled coast to coast with IBEW Electrical Union, always returning home to Seminole County. In 2006, he retired to become a full time PaPa. He leaves to cherish his memory, his wife, Joyce Earnest of Donalsonville, GA; his daughter, Lori Whittaker and her husband Billy of Donalsonville, GA; his grandchildren, Billy Reed Whittaker and Presley Whittaker; his brother, J.E. (Bo) Earnest and his wife Jerrie of Donalsonville, GA; as well as several nieces and nephews. Mr. Earnest was preceded in death by his parents, Hoke S. and Vera White Earnest; his brother, Bobby J. Earnest; his sisters, Jewel E. Seymor and Amelia Earnest; his son, M. Stacy Earnest; and his prized pet, Bones.