Ernest Tophia, Jr. was the only child born to the late Olevia and Ernest Tophia, Sr. Partially deaf as a child, Ernest became a skilled lip-reader, which aided him as an adult when he became completely deaf. In his early 30's, he met and married Frances Perkins and the two were inseperable. They had no children, but christened several God-children: Carol "Dianne" Welch, Frank Jackson, Mary Johnson, Crystal Cherry Davis, and Betty Cade.
Frances became ill with Alzheimer's Disease and was admitted into Sterling Place Nursing Home. Ernest visited her every day (bringing her small bags of vanilla wafers) and eventually followed her as a resident there when his health began to fail. Frances died on January 19, 2020. Grief-stricken and physically declining at the ripe age of 91, Ernest soon joined his beloved Frances on March 11, 2020 at midnight. He will be laid to rest next to Frances at Sherobee Baptist Church Cemetery in St. Francisville, Louisiana.
When Frances became ill, Ernest wrote a note on his chalkboard at home: "Good Night, Frances, wherever you are, my love..." I believe he is with her now. Together again, Rest in Peace.
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