Mr. Earnest Junior Obey, 80, passed away Monday, May 8, 2023 at Casey House (Montgomery) Hospice in Rockville, Maryland.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 11 a.m. at McLaurin-Harris Funeral Home Chapel, 721 East Morehead Street, Reidsville, NC.

Earnest affectionately referred to as "Boo-Lum and Red-Dog" was born on March 1, 1943, the only child to the late Junior Peele and Irene Obey (Hanley) in Reidsville, NC. He was raised by his late grandparents, Wheeler and Amanda Obey.

Earnest attended and graduated from Booker T. Washington High School. It was also at this high school where he met his late wife, Loretta Patricia Bolden "Trish", and the two of them dated after graduation in 1961 through college and married on July 29, 1965. Earnest then graduated from Winston-Salem State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Education. He had a 15 year teaching career with Columbus Public Schools and Watkins Elementary before a change of career in to the Insurance Industry, where he retired.

Earnest leaves to cherish his memories, his immediate survivors, his daughter, Monica Obey (Mustafa) of Washington, DC, and son, Ernest Lamont Obey of Oklahoma City, OK; grandchildren, Brandon M. Obey of Atlanta, GA, Aaliyah and Nasir Shabazz of Washington, DC., Lauren, Aveon, Dominic, and Addison Obey all of Oklahoma City, OK; great-grandon, Xavier M Obey-Taul of Georgetown, KY. Earnest also leaves a lasting legacy with aunts, uncles, and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews. Earnest's vibrant smile will forever be missed.

Service by McLaurin-Harris.