Charles C. Earnest

Charles Cleve Earnest, age 85, found his way back to God on April 22, 2016. Born on October 30, 1930, in Bessemer, AL Cleve grew up on the farm of his parents, Cleve Sr. and Elizabeth Ellen (McCann) Earnest. Cleve attended St. Aloysius Catholic School through the 10th grade, transferring and graduating from Bessemer High School, where he played varsity football. He was a veteran of the Korean War, stationed on Santa Rosa Island off the coast of California. There he learned the skills that started his career with the then Southern Bell Telephone Co. Starting as a switchman in the Central Office in Bessemer, Cleve quickly rose through the ranks, landing his first management job in 1960 as Manager of the Talladega office. The family was there for less than two years when he was promoted to a bigger district, Florence, AL, then in 1966 after being made head of public relations of North Alabama, the family moved to Huntsville AL. and called Huntsville home for 14 years. After the divestiture of the Bell Systems, Cleve was called back to Birmingham to head up Corporate and Public Affairs. Cleve continued to represent Bell South till his retirement after 44 years. During that time he met every president since Kennedy, (his favorite being Ronald Regan), athletic stars, beauty queens, singers, actors, (he was cast in a movie in Huntsville, AL with Richard Harris and Ernest Borgnine). In 1950 he met and married the love of his life Patricia Campbell. Together they raised four girls and one boy, and were married until Pat’s death in 1991. Cleve is survived by his five adoring children, Cathy Earnest (Houston, TX), Mike Earnest (Cullman, AL), Kelly Earnest Spears (Atlanta, GA), Judy Earnest Arnold (Birmingham, AL), and Mimi Earnest (Birmingham, AL) and his treasured grandchildren and great grandchildren, Ashley, Greg, Patrick, Mary Kathrine, Grace, Anna, Samuel and Jacob. Visitation will be on Monday, April 25, 2016 from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M at Elmwood Chapel Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 12:00 P.M. to 1:00 P.M. on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Hoover with a Celebration of Life following at 1:00 P. M. Burial at Elmwood Cemetery.