Ernest

Mickens

Ernest Mickens, affectionately known as "Brother" and "Ernie," was born on April 6th, 1951, in Sumter, South Carolina, to Agnes Mickens and Alex Holmes, Sr. He was the youngest of 10 children. Ernie was educated in the Lee County School System and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1969. He later moved to New Jersey to attend William Paterson University, where he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration and a Master of Science degree in management from New Jersey Institute of Technology. In 1978, Ernie married Donna Seigler, and from this 19-year union came two children, Sara Elizabeth and Jason Tyler. For more than 20 years, Ernie worked at Mobay Chemical, where he was a supervisor. He later became a licensed account manager at Allstate in Paramus, New Jersey. He had plans to retire in 2016. Ernie loved spending time with his children, reading, and watching sports, especially the Dallas Cowboys and New York Mets. He loved the Lord and had strong faith. He had been a member of Mechanicsville United Methodist Church in Lee County, South Carolina, and he had been a longtime member and deacon at Faith Chapel Reformed Church in Paterson, New Jersey. At the time of his death, he was a member and steward at New AME Zion Church in Paterson, New Jersey. Ernie departed this life and entered into eternal life on August 31st, 2015, at his home in Ridgewood, New Jersey, at the age of 64. He leaves to fondly cherish his memory: daughter, Sara Mickens of Gaithersburg, Maryland; son, Jason Tyler Mickens of Ramsey, New Jersey; goddaughter, Ebony Byrd of Union, New Jersey; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends. Ernie was preceded in death by his parents, Agnes Mickens and Alex Holmes, Sr.; three sisters, Willie Mae, Rubie, and Janie; and six brothers, Lucious, Mallie, Johnny, Willie, James, and Herbert.