Reverend Earnest Washington, Sr. was born to the parentage of Nathaniel Washington and Hazel Baker on August 18,1933, in Alexandria, Rapides Parish, Louisiana.
As a young boy, he went to live with his Uncle George and Aunt Elsie “Shoot” Hagar, who nurtured him into young adulthood. At the age of twelve, he confessed Christ and accepted Him as his Savior. He joined the Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church where the late Rev. J. J. Hagar was pastor and was baptized in Boeuf Bayou in Dubuisson, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana.
During his teen years he accompanied a friend to the home of the late Samuel and Eula Johnson where he met the most beautiful young lady he had ever seen. Ethel Lee Johnson stole his heart and he professed that, “she was going to be his wife.” He spent the next three years praying for her and they were married on November 29, 1952. Shortly thereafter, the happy couple moved to Houston, Texas, with “$14.00 in his pocket and 3 suitcases- two of them were Ethel’s and his was half full”. To this union nine children were born.
Reverend Washington learned the value of an honest day’s work at an early age and it became the compass that guided him as he provided for his family. His employment included, The Carnation Milk Company, Uvalde, the Palmer Paper Company, Loffman Grocery Store and Industrial Tool and Die Company as a machinist. Earnest and Ethel united with the St. Mary Missionary Baptist Church in the West End (Sixth Ward) of Houston. There, he served as a deacon and usher. In 1961, he acknowledged God’s calling to preach the Gospel. He was called to pastor the Northmore Missionary Baptist Church in 1967 and remained a faithful shepherd for 50 years. He was a man of great faith with a heart of love for God and God’s people. He also valued education. Earnest and Ethel were able to see all nine of their children complete their degrees from Prairie View A&M University.
One of his favorite songs was “When the Gates Swing Open” and he would sing it as often as possible with gusto and great enthusiasm as if he could envision the event unfolding before his eyes. On Saturday afternoon, January 16, 2021, God mercifully swung heaven’s gates open and beckoned his servant home.
Reverend Earnest Washington, Sr., was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Mrs. Ethel L. Washington; parents, Rev. Nathaniel Washington and Mrs. Hazel Baker Wells; step-mother, Mrs. Florence Washington; two brothers, Asberry Charles and Rev. Morrell Sams; grandchildren, Michael J. Jones, Jr. and Jennifer M. Yancy.
Those who remain to cherish his memories are his sons, Earnest Jr. (Carol), Rev. Kelvin Jerome, Sr. (LaWanda), and Rev Charles Sr. (Linda); daughters, Karen Ann Brown, Janice Smith, Joyce Marie Yancy, Min. Eula Romona West (Rev. Lindsey, Sr.), Cheryl Evette Washington, and Ethel Denise Augustine (Ronald, Sr.); 33 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, four sisters, Verlie Nobles, Gloria Kirkland, Ruth Lewis, and Virginia Jones; one brother, Rev. Roy L Wells (Janice), three sisters- in-law, Lucy Mae Fontenot (Henry), Caroline Johnson, and Doris Sams; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
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