Ernest Killum
06/11/1948 - 06/11/2020
Earnest Killum, was born in Duncan, Mississippi on June 11, 1948, to the late Robert Keller, Sr. and Viola Thomas.
Earnest was adopted and raised by his aunt and uncle, Beatrice and Albert Williams, in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He excelled as a student athlete, graduating from Coahoma Agricultural High School, in 1966. After high school, Earnest attended Coahoma Junior College for two years, where he was an outstanding student and athlete. On the basketball team, he was Team Captain, and leading scorer; where he still holds several records. Upon graduation, he continued his education at Stetson University, in Deland, Florida, there he continued his dominance as a basketball star. In his two seasons in DeLand, Earnest averaged 24.9 points per game, including 25.6 points during his senior season. Both marks are still school records. For his accomplishments, he was inducted into the Sports Hall of Fame, at both Coahoma Community College, and Stetson University. He was also inducted into the Mississippi Community College Sports Hall of Fame, in 2012; and the Clarksdale-Coahoma County Sports Hall of Fame, in 2013.
Earnest was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers, in the second round of the 1970 NBA Draft. He spent one season with the Lakers, playing alongside the likes of Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, Jim McMillan, and Jerry West. An ankle injury limited Earnest to just four games that season, ultimately concluding his professional career after playing two years in Spain and Portugal.
In 1974, Earnest settled in the Atlanta area and chose to begin his career in Education with the DeKalb County School System as a Physical Education teacher. He was selected as the Head Men’s basketball coach at Gordon High School, achieving many awards and accolades. He earned his Master’s Degree in Physical Education at the University of Montevallo, Montevallo, Alabama. He continued to pursue his education at Atlanta University, completing his Administrative Leadership Certification, which led to becoming him a Doctoral Candidate at Clark Atlanta University.
Throughout his tenure in education, he served as a leader in the field of Education for both DeKalb County and Fulton County Boards of Education. Even after his retirement, he was recognized as a stellar Principal and was sought after administratively to improve schools’ leadership goals. He touched the lives of his students, who all remember him fondly and many of whom still kept in contact with him even during his last days.
Earnest was a devout Christian and was ordained as a Deacon in 2002 at The Greater Travelers Rest Baptist Church/House of Hope Atlanta under the leadership of the late Rev. H.F. Shepherd in Decatur, Georgia. He was an active member of Total Victory Worship Center of Atlanta, where he served as a Deacon, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and a member of the Finance Team. His pastor, Rev. Angelic Simmons, remembers him as a kind soul that dedicated much time to ensuring the upkeep of Total Victory and the safety of its congregation.
Earnest loved life, he loved his family, and he loved traveling and meeting new people. He made it a priority to maintain closeness with family and would often take road trips to Florida, Minnesota, Illinois, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, and California to express his love for his family. Earnest also loved the tennis court, where he spent most of many hours at Sugar Creek Tennis Center ‘whipping up’ on his teammates and playing ALTA and USTA. He won several city-wide trophies. Earnest had a special charisma about him; he kept everyone around him laughing, and he never met a stranger.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Felecia Killum; son, Earnest Killum, Jr.; parents, Robert Keller, Sr. and Viola Thomas; brothers, Michael and Donald Keller; Fred, Albert and Roosevelt (Sugaman) Williams; and sister, Daisy (Williams) Webb.
He will truly be missed and leaves a legacy of kindness to his loving children, Matthew and Erica Killum; brothers, Robert (Mona) Keller, Jr., Chicago, IL; Otis Keller, Tifton, GA; Anthony Keller of Lewisville, TX; and Curtis Keller, Memphis, TN; sisters, Otha “Nellie” Johnson, Reber (Ed) Sledge, Memphis, TN; Adrian (Eugene) Adams, Sandra (Ian) Ramsey, Sharon Green, Rita (Vincent) Blackmon, and Barbara Ann Burress, all of Chicago,IL; aunt, Odessa Wingo Sanders, Florence, KY; stepson, Everett Fleming, III, Orlando, F; goddaughter, Ashley White, Stone Mountain; Matthew’s mother, Joy Killum; Erica’s mother, Edna Fleming, former spouse, Dicine Killum; special friends, Lonnie Edwards Sr., Dan White, Tony Phillips, Joseph Landfair, and Captain Brad Bradley; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Donald Trimble Mortuary, Inc., 1876 Second Avenue, Decatur, 404-371-0772-3.
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