The funeral services for the late Mr. Earnest Gass, Sr., who departed this life on Sunday, January 21, 2024 at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, Georgia, will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. from the Venue 82, Sylvester, Georgia. Reverend Tiller Sims will deliver the Eulogy. Burial will follow in the Hillcrest Cemetery in Sylvester, Georgia. Services may be viewed Facebook Live from the “Shipp's Funeral Home” Facebook page or by clicking the Video Stream link on this site's Home Page.

Deacon Earnest Gass, Sr. was born April 22, 1934, in Sylvester (Worth County), Georgia to the late Mr. and Mrs. Ulysses and Tannie Lee Ellison Gass.

Earnest attended school in the Worth County Public School System and later relocated to Detroit, Michigan.

After relocating to Detroit, Michigan, Earnest worked for Ford Motor Company for two years. Fostering friendships, he became a member of Capstone Lodge #30, MWPHGL, Detroit, Michigan. Being a strong advocate of advancement, Earnest began working for Borman Trucking Company, where he joined the Teamsters Union and retired from Borman Trucking Company on October 1, 1996, after thirty-five years of service. His retirement was short-lived, as his ambition and love for family lead him to purchase 3 charter buses and naming the business after his family name, “Hightower Tours”. He sponsored several family reunions.

Earnest accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age and was baptized. He was a faithful and dedicated member of New Hope Baptist Church, serving as a Member of the Deacon Board. Loving to sing and raise hymns, his favorite hymn was “A Charge To Keep I Have”.

On July 3, 1956, Earnest married the love of his life, Nada Jean Hope Gass. Six beautiful children were born to this union. He loved his wife and loved to hear her affectionally call him “Ernie D”. They were married for sixty-eight wonderful years. He was a hard worker, loved his family, and took a special interest in his children and grandchildren.

On Sunday Morning, January 21, 2024, at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, Georgia, Earnest heard the Master’s call that his work here on this earth was done, and it was time for him to come and take Eternal Rest. He was preceded in death by father, Ulysses Gass, Sr., mothers, Tannie Lee Gass and Mary Lee Gass, brothers, Austin Gass, Sr., Reverend Arthur J. Gass, Sr., Ulysses Gass, Jr., sister, Juanita Gass Payne, grandchildren, Derlene Chlandous Davis, Brandon Eugene Davis, Rodney Ledbetter, William Ledbetter, Barbara Ann Ledbetter, and Miracle Gass.

Earnest leaves to cherish his memories, his loving wife of 68 years, Nada Jean Gass; four daughters, Carolyn Gass Ledbetter, Patricia Gass (Reginald) Parks, Gwendolyn Gass, and Merline Gass, all of Detroit, Michigan; two sons, Jerome Gass, Earnest (Teresa) Gass, Jr., both of Detroit, Michigan; his siblings, Agnes Bernice (Ronald) Eley of Lauderhill, Florida, Bennie Gass of Albany, Georgia; a special sister in-law, Mapil Davis of Sylvester, Georgia; thirteen grandchildren, twenty-two great grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, in-laws, family, and friends.