Earnest P. Easterling, 92, passed away on Monday, January 29, 2024.  Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 1, 2024 from 5:00 pm until 7:00pm at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home in Flowood.  A graveside service will be held at 2:00pm  on Friday, February 2, 2024 in the Sallis Cemetery in Sallis, MS.

Mr. Easterling was a native of Polkville, MS and graduated from Polkville High School where he played basketball.  He left home at 19 to join the Air Force and was stationed in Anchorage, Alaska.  He was later stationed in Lexington, MS in the ground observer corp where he met his wife, Bessie. From Lexington he was sent to Tucson, AZ for four years and after 12 years he retired from active duty.  He then joined the Air National Guard where he served an additional 17 years retiring from the 172nd Air Wing as Senior Master Sergeant.  He joined the Jackson Police Department in 1966 and served for 31 years.  He enjoyed gardening and spending time outside.  He loved feeding his grandsons cornbread and buttermilk.

He was preceded in death by his parents, B. C. and Lillian Easterling.  His brothers, Luther, Carl, Otis and Ray as well as his sister, Eva Mae Smith.  He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Bessie; his daughter, Leah O'Hara (Kevin), his sons, Ricky Easterling (Teresa), Darryl Easterling (Felicia), and his youngest daughter, Crystal Peeples (David); his nine grandsons, Michael and John O'Hara, Tyler and Colton Easterling, Dillon and Dustin Easterling, Carter, Chase and Cooper Peeples and his step grandsons, Taylor, Tyler and Tanner Prince and Jacob Graham; and many much loved nieces, nephews and a great niece, Heather.

The family request that memorial contributions be made to Polkville Cemetery in care of Polkville UPC, 1487 SCR 538, Morton, MS 39117 or Sallis Cemetery fund, P.O. Box 146, Sallis, MS 39160