Earnest Purifoy, Sr., 91, of Palatka, entered the sunset of life on Sunday, November 26, 2023 at HCA Florida Putnam Hospital, Palatka. The son of L.C. and Sue Etta (Jackson) Purifoy, he was born on Wednesday, February 17, 1932 in Marion Junction (Dallas County), Alabama. In Earnest's early years, after relocating from Alabama, he enjoyed playing the game of baseball during the Negro Baseball League era on a regional team. Earnest was a former deacon at Allen Chapel AME Church in Palatka. He was a longtime employee and former factory worker at Florida Furniture and Central States Diversified Companies respectively. He was a master carpenter by trade having built his home and his daughter's home and completing numerous other projects throughout the community. He had a love for family, fishing, playing cards, and simply sitting on his front porch greeting passersby.

Earnest was preceded in eternal rest by his parents; wife, Doris Lookadoo Purifoy; siblings, Nancy Lester, L.C. Purifoy, Jr., James Purifoy, Jean Darr, Collie Purifoy, Essie Lee Purifoy, Emma Purifoy;

He leaves to cherish his memories: sons, Wallace (Deloris) Lookadoo, Sr., Earnest (Marian) Purifoy; daughters, Loretha Medlock, Nancy Purifoy; grandchildren, Wallace (Benita) Lookadoo, Jr., Eugene (Chiquita) King, Marcia King-Collins, Rickey (Chrissie) Medlock, Tara (Harry) Simon, Ricky Summers, Marcus Medlock, Earnest (Monteka) Purifoy III, Crystal Purifoy, Zavier Matlock, Kaisha Purifoy; brother-in-law, Fred Lester; and a host of great grandchildren, loving nieces, nephews and friends.

Visitation will be from 1-3 p.m., Saturday, December 2 with Celebration of Life at 3 p.m., Flagg's Chapel of Serenity, Pastor Rodderick King, Empowerment COGIC, Lake Helen, is the eulogist.