Ernest Lee Hightower

“Honey bunch”, “Dad”, “Grandpa”, “Ernie”, “Unc” and “Mr. E” are endearing and familial descriptions associated with Earnest Lee Hightower, who departed his earthly home on December 15 ^th , 2021 at 11:00AM.

On January 2, 1945, Earnest was born to James Earl Hightower, Sr. and Gertrude Holman Hightower (both now deceased), in the city of West Memphis, Arkansas. During his formative years, Ernie attended Arkansas public schools and was graduated from Wonder High School in 1963.

Soon after graduation, Earnest had a burning desire to relocate to New York City to explore job opportunities and a more appealing lifestyle.  His employment while in NYC included restaurant server, bartender and sky cap at Newark International Airport.

After more than twenty-five years in New York, his next move was to Charlotte, North Carolina, where he immediately found employment with Carolinas Medical Center as a material handler and where he met his bride-to-be, Omega, and asked for her hand in marriage on September 8, 1991.

Earnest attended Simpson Gillespie United Methodist for a few years, but then decided to convert to Islam, and began attending the Masjid Ash-Shaheed Islamic Center, at 400 West Sugar Creek Road, Charlotte, NC. , where he served on the board of trustees and the security team.

Earnest remained a faithful, dependable, and energetic employee at Carolinas Medical until his retirement in 2003. After retirement, he worked part time as a support staffer at a boys’ group home, a server at Charlotte City Club, uptown Charlotte, a security guard at CPCC-Huntersville, and later in life, worked as a funeral attendant at Alexander Funeral Home, Charlotte, NC and finally as a customer service representative at Famous Mart Department Store.

In addition to the death of his parents, he bid farewell to two brothers, Rufus Hightower and Archie Hightower, and one sister, Evelyn Hightower Rainey.

Earnest leaves to mourn his departure and cherish the memories are his wife Omega Hightower, two daughters, Dsonya Monique Hightower Alexander (Eric), of Memphis, Tennessee; Stephanie Hightower Baker (Tony), of Newark, New Jersey ; one brother, James Hightower, Sr., of S. Holland, Illinois; one sister, Gwendolyn Hightower, of Knoxville, Tennessee; grandsons, LaQuain “Barron” Nicholls (Shari), and Charleston Alexander; granddaughter, Erica Alexander; one great grandson, Scotty, one step-son, Jibril (Buster Green) Abdum-Muhaymin (Shani), three step-grandsons, Marcus Williams, Jordan Williams and Jul Rashid, as well as a host of nieces and nephews.

Interment will be at Gethsemane Cemetery and Memorial Gardens, 1504 W. Sugar Creek Rd, Charlotte 28262 .

“Give good news to those who patiently endure— those who say, when afflicted with calamity: “To Allah do we belong and to Him is our return.” -Holy Qur’an 2:155-156