Sis. Ora B. Earnest

EARNEST, Sis. Ora B. - Age 90, passed away Friday, October 9, 2015 at Briarwood Manor. Family hour 10 a.m. Saturday, October 17, 2015 at New Creation Church of God, 3472 Lennon Rd., with funeral service commencing at 11 a.m. Rev. Herbert Banks, officiating. Interment Sunset Hills Cemetery, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10 a.m. Saturday. Mrs. Earnest will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. Friday. Sis. Ora Bell Earnest was born October 9, 1925 in Philadelphia, Mississippi, the daughter of Eugene and Sylvania (Thames) Backstrom. She grew up in the Hopewell Community and attended Hopewell High School graduating in 1946. Ora was a member of New Creation Church of God and served faithfully for many years. She was united in Holy Matrimony to Devon Earnest on August 28, 1946 and to this union two children were born. Ora was a faithful wife for 46 years. She was employed at Flint Osteopathic Hospital (FOH) for 18 years until she retired November 1, 1987. Ora enjoyed reading her Bible, spending time with her family and cooking, especially her candied yams and sweet potato pies. She also loved talking about the Lord. Sis. Ora Bell Earnest leaves to cherish her memory: 2 daughters, Joyce Smith and Gloria J. Mayberry; 5 grandchildren, Yolanda (Floyd) Gadson of South Bend, IN, Colette (Juan) Goosby, Terrence Mayberry, Anthony (LaToya) Earnest, all of Flint, and Tanisha (Jason) Tharpe of Bartow, FL; 15 great-grandchildren, Kenneth D. (Keshia) Echols, Jr., La Kendra and Jaleal Mayberry, Shaitoia Gadson, all of South Bend, IN, DeArius Earnest-Griggs of Barlow, FL, Daysia Jordan of Richmond, VA, Kionte Mayberry, Delon Earnest, Asia and Kiara Goosby, all of Flint, Javon and Jashon Tharpe, both of Barlow, FL, Akari and Carter Earnest, and Darius Anderson, all of Flint; great-great-grandchild, Da’Kari Mayberry of South Bend, IN; son-in-law, Jesse Mayberry; 3 sisters-in-law, Christine Earnest, Elone Smith and Katie Backstrom; 2 brothers-in-law, Johnnie (Lula) and Arthur Earl Earnest; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends including cousins, Sheila Bates, Barbara Ann Clifton and Debra Moore. Sis. Earnest was preceded in death by her husband, Devon Earnest; parents, Eugene and Sylvania Backstrom; 6 siblings, Sezzle Carter, Willie Earl Hathorn, Odie Mae Aaron, Joe, Elijah and Eugene Backstrom, Jr. The family would like to express special thanks to Geraldine Turner, Debra A. Stewart, Dorothy Jones and New Creation Church of God family.

Sis. Ora B. Earnest

October 9, 1925 - October 9, 2015