Earnest Lee Joseph

Earnest Lee Joseph 85 of Benton Harbor, transitioned on February 11, 2019, in Kalamazoo, MI.  Legacy farewell services will be held on Wednesday, February 20, 2019, at Robbins Brothers Funeral Home, 204 S Fair Ave, Benton Harbor, MI 49022 with visitation starting at 10:00 am followed by services at 11:00 am. Burial will take place at Crystal Spring Cemetery following services.

Earnest Lee Joseph Sr. was born June 12, 1933, in Blytheville, Arkansas and was the son of the late Herman Sr. and mother Eddie Joseph. He also spent some time in New Jersey until moving to Benton Harbor at the age of 16.

Earnest accepted Christ as his Savior at an early age at Hopewell Baptist church under the leadership of the late Rev John Simmons. Later, he joined the Fairplain Seventh- Day Adventist Church and served under the leadership of Rev Gerhard Erbes where he was a faithful member. Earnest loved bowling, the Chicago Cubs and boxing. He was a golden glove boxer himself. Earnest worked at Auto Specialties, Whirlpool and BHAS in the early ’80s and retired from Ultra Seal after 20 years of employment.

Earnest leaves to cherish his memory, his loving wife, Kim Joseph; daughters, Betty Fields of Jackson, MI, Dorothy Brummel of Atlanta, GA, Rita, Kim (Phillip) Fly, Lisa Joseph, Benton Harbor, MI. Janet Joseph, South Bend, IN and Erica Partee of HI,Sons, Earnest Joseph Jr of South Bend, IN, Clarence Joseph of Atlanta, GA, Michael Bird of Grand Rapids, MI and Arthur Joseph of Dallas, TX.; stepchildren, Sharmal Hardy of OH and Rico Hardy of Benton Harbor, MI; nephews Luther Charles Joseph Jr and John Joseph; a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren, great nieces, nephews and plenty of friends.

Earnest was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Eddie Joseph; sons Mickey and Gregory Joseph; sister, Marie Bernard; brother, Luther Joseph Sr; stepbrother, Herman Joseph Jr.  

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