Ernestine Shockley

Click Here to View the Livestream of the Service

Born March 1, 1926 in Sparta, TN, Ernestine Shockley was the oldest of 5 children born to Ada Price and Harve Officer. 

At age 12, the untimely death of her mother meant she and her siblings would now reside under the loving care of their Uncle Beecher and Aunt Gertrude. It was during this time that Ernestine became a caretaker, finding peace in looking after her siblings and tending to their home. 

While in Tennessee, she and her family were faithful members of Kynett United Methodist Church where her younger brother, Billy, served as the choir director and her younger sister, Nelda, served as the accompanist. Ernestine, a true soprano, was a member of the chorus. However, her days there were short-lived as Billy kicked her out for not knowing many of the lyrics to the church hymns. 

She married Fred Shockley in 1946. In the early 1950s, they moved to Detroit, MI with their young son, Fred, Jr. The Shockley family followed the path many Black families traveled during the Great Migration. In 1953, the Shockley’s welcomed their daughter, Beverly, and eventually settled on Elmhurst St. in Highland Park, MI in 1963. 

She and her family were devoted members of Berea St. Paul United Methodist Church. She served as a communion steward and served in the kitchen during coffee hour – never ashamed to put store-bought cakes in glass cake dishes and telling the church members she made them from scratch. Berea was a second home to the family. After her husband’s passing in 2001, many members would look after Ernestine, especially Frank Robertson, who made a promise to Fred Sr. that he would always help Ernestine with whatever she needed. 

Ernestine was loved and respected by all of her neighbors, many of whom still stopped by to check on her whether they were local or away from the neighborhood for decades. She cared for them as she cared for her home: with love and grace. The house was full of intention. Mondays were for laundry. Tuesdays: ironing and dusting. Wednesdays: groceries. Thursdays: doctor appointments. Fridays: self-care. Saturdays: resting. Sundays: church. 

The epitome of ‘staying ready so you ain’t gotta get ready.’

Ernestine worked as an assistant cook at Ferris Middle School in Highland Park for twenty years. Her grandchildren, who all affectionately called her “Ma,” love talking about their visits to the school while she was serving lunch in the cafeteria. 

Throughout her life, Ernestine enjoyed being on the marina on her son’s boat, sitting on her front porch, going to the casino, visiting her daughter’s family in Saginaw, word search puzzles, watching Tigers baseball on TV, Wheel of Fortune, and NBC News with Lester Holt (because of his looks). 

In her later years, she turned into an Internet celebrity, once her granddaughters began sharing her anecdotes on their social media pages. Her humor and quick-witted one-liners were anticipated by many of her online followers. 

In January 2018, because her physical health was declining, Ernestine began living with her daughter and son-in-law in Saginaw, MI. They became devoted personal caretakers to Ernestine, providing her with comfort and companionship, and designing strict meal plans and special workout routines. Although she had never done any type of physical fitness until arriving in Saginaw, Ernestine became totally invested in her workout regimen, inspiring many to pursue their own health journey. Her son-in-law often modified some of the exercises to better suit her abilities, to which she would reply, “you just making up s**t.”

She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred; son and daughter-in-law, Fred Jr. and Yvonne; and all of her siblings, Bobby Officer, Patricia Shockley, William H. Moore, and Nelda Pincheon. 

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Beverly and Derrick Harge; grandsons, Derf and Drake (Amy) Shockley; granddaughters, Jessica and Jennifer Harge; great-grandchildren, Derf II and Diamond Shockley; great-great grandchildren, Derf Shockley III and Aubree and Avayah Washington; sisters-in-law, Daisy Officer and Shirley Moore; nieces, Lisa Sanders, Cynthia Gist, Tanya Ball, Ellaina Taylor and Courtney Moore; and nephew, Brian Officer. 

She was also blessed to have special angels enter her life: Ky, Ky, and Kadence LeFever, and Russell, Ethan, and Elliot Lord. 

The family would like to thank the caregivers who supported Ernestine’s health journey: Physical Therapists Reza Saffarian and Kiruba Sam and her primary care physician, Dr. Minoo Kheterpal. 

We celebrate a life well lived.