Earl "The Pearl" Doss Jr.

Earl William Doss, Jr. came into the world on Thursday, November 30, 1973 born to Earl

William Doss, Sr. and Marion Evelyn Wesley (Doss). He spent the first weeks and months of his

life fighting, having been born a preemie. During his formative years, Earl Jr. attended

Caledonia Elementary School, Kirk Middle School and Shaw High School in East Cleveland,

Ohio. He would go on to attend Kent State University’s Ohio Police Academy and graduate from

Bryant & Stratton, Cleveland.

At any early age, Earl exhibited a gift for singing and performing. He began at home,

entertaining family, and later moved to the children’s choir of Good Shepherd Baptist Church.

His older brother Charles recalled the Sunday, when the congregation was singing, “Bringing in

the Sheaves,” and a young Earl, misunderstanding the lyrics, sang, “We will come rejoicing,

bringing in the cheese.” As a young adult, he and four of his friends from Good Shepherd

formed a contemporary gospel group called “Brothers in Christ,” performing throughout the City

of Cleveland and surrounding communities.

He refined his skills and love of being an entertainer when, in his late teens and early twenties,

he met and became an MC/party-starter/dancer for Terry Macklin and Macklin Entertainment,

working bar/bat mitzvahs, weddings, and events around Cleveland, especially for Executive

Caterers at Landerhaven, where his father was a longtime employee. He loved teaching line-

dancing, getting everyone on the dance floor and making people feel welcomed and seen. As

his niece Sydney put it, “He could light up a room.”

In a large family of musically-inclined and arts-oriented people, Earl continued to create his own

pathway as an entertainer while pursuing a career in law enforcement as a peace officer. As his

health shifted, he would merge his business knowledge with his professional training to work as

a logistics technician in security.

On Sunday, February 26, 2023, Earl William Doss, Jr. departed this life in the same manner as

he entered it: fighting. He left a profound sense of loss in the lives of his family, New Community

Bible Fellowship family and huge family of friends.

He was preceded in death by his father, Earl Sr. and mother, Marion as well as his step-mother,

Dorothy. He leaves behind four children: Emma and Eve Doss, Trey and Tyrus Fisher. Earl was

the youngest of 10 siblings: Charles Coleman (Paulene), Carl Coleman (Geraldine), Ceray Doss

Williams (Michael Williams), Edwin Ralph (Debra), Floyd (Carolyn), Earletta Doss-Barrett, Mark

S. (Dawn), Alyse Doss Thompson (Stephen), and Celeste Doss Duncan. He also leaves a host

of nieces and nephews, cousins and extended family to mourn his passing. Earl often

expressed gratitude for his aunts, Elsie Wesley Matlock, Carolyn Grant, and Maria Wesley and

uncle, James Wesley, for their unconditional love and support as surrogate parents.

A visitation for Earl will be held Friday, March 10, 2023 from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Cummings & Davis Funeral Home, 13201 Euclid Avenue, East Cleveland, Ohio 44112. A wake will occur Saturday, March 11, 2023 from 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM, 13201 Euclid Avenue, East Cleveland, Ohio 44112. A celebration of life will occur Saturday, March 11, 2023 at 11:00 AM, 13201 Euclid Avenue, East Cleveland, Ohio 44112.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cummingsanddavisfh.com for the Doss family.