Ernestine B. Mixon

Born Ernestine Fultz, she was raised from birth by the only mother she ever knew Minvare Brown after her biological mother, Anna Louise Fultz, passed giving birth. Minvare Brown, later to become Minvare Mapp through marriage to Booker Mapp, raised her as own along side her other daughters Helen and Maxine as well as two foster brothers Narcisso (Cecil) and Randall.

As a child, Ernestine attended Galen Clark Elementary School, Tenaya Junior High School and Merced High School. She was raised in a Christian home and faithfully attended 2nd Baptist Church in Merced throughout her youth. It was there she professed faith and was baptized in 1959.

In 1967 she met Willie Mixon, a young airman stationed at Castle AFB, they fell in love and were married on July 6, 1968. Their union was blessed by the birth of three sons, Willie Jr. (Guy), Jery and Tyus. Although they would divorce years later, Ernestine was dedicated and determined to give her sons a stable home, so she took a job at Keller Industries as an assembly worker to provide for her family. She remained employed there until health problems forced an early retirement. Through it all she kept a positive outlook on life and enjoyed being creative in the kitchen, planning family gatherings, growing her own produce and keeping her home filled with good food, green plants, laughter, and love. Her greatest joy was her children and grandchildren along with many “adopted” children who looked to her for motherly love and wisdom.

Ernestine is preceded in death by her biological mother, Anna Louise Fultz, adopted mother Minvare Mapp, sisters Maxine Baskins and Helen Hollingshed and brothers, Raymond Reed, Samuel Lloyd, and William Lloyd.

She is survived by her three sons, Willie Mixon Jr., Jery Mixon and Tyus Mixon all of Merced, her sister Joann Fultz of Merced, 14 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren and a host of cousins, nephews, and nieces.