Ernest L. Whitfield Jr. Obituary

Ernest Lee Whitfield, Jr. (Bubba), 81, was born on August 16, 1942 in Atlanta, GA. He passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, December, 21, 2023.

Ernest grew up as one of six children to Ernest Lee Whitfield, Sr., and Mollie Louise Stewart Whitfield. He had two brothers and three sisters. He was the loving husband to Gabriele, father to sons, Lee and Edgar, and daughters, Tracy and Tanya. He was the proud and loving grandfather to granddaughters, Bethanie, Kaylee, Priscilla, and Jenna, and grandsons Zach, Ryan, and Hayden. He was also great-grandfather to Dean and Wyatt, as well as an honorary grandfather to Sabastian.

In addition to his parents, Ernest is preceded in death by his granddaughter, Kaylee Whitfield, brother Glenn Whitfield, and sisters, Geraldine (Jerry) Gamble and June Davis, and daughter-in-law Lisa Clark.

He is survived by his wife Gabriele Whitfield, sons, E. Lee Whitfield III, (Teresa) and Edgar Clark, daughters, Tracy Highton (Tommy) and Tanya Jones, granddaughters, Bethanie Dailey (Scott), Priscilla Clark, and Jenna Conner (Bennie), and grandsons, Zach Highton, Ryan Highton, and Hayden Jones, and twin great-grandsons, Dean Dailey and Wyatt Dailey, sister Joyce Smith (Tommy), brother David Whitfield (Sue), and sisters-in-law, Ursula Baier and Walburgis Maitzen. He is also survived by many nieces, and nephews, as well as several great nieces and great nephews and numerous cousins.

In life, Ernest took great pride in being an entrepreneur, building and running many successful businesses. He obtained his insurance license and opened Lee Insurance Agency. He also owned many grocery stores in the southeast with Bubba’s Supermarkets. Through the years he obtained many rental properties. When he obtained his real estate and brokerage licenses he opened Lee Realty where he sold commercial real estate and residential properties with his wife Gabi. But his pride and joy of all businesses was his bookkeeping and tax firm, Whitfield and Associates, in which he operated for 54 years.

Ernest was a loving family man. He took his son's deep sea fishing in Tarpon Springs, FL, and trout fishing each spring. He and his sons, and later daughter, would go deer hunting, and rabbit hunting with his beloved beagles. Along with his sons, he rebuilt several hot rods, including a prized 55 Chevy that they built from the frame up out in the garage behind the house. When his daughters joined the family, the fun expanded with regular car shows as members of the National Hot Rod Association, regular trips to Florida, North Georgia, and North Carolina. He built a swimming pool where the kids learned to swim, and which quickly became the spot everyone wanted to be. He took the kids swimming, riding motorcycles, doing donuts in the car in a field on property the family-owned, and so many more activities. He also included his kids in business activities such as working on cleaning and renovating rental properties, helping clean and count change at his grocery stores, and also helping at Whitfield and Associates, and of course, helping at home with activities and projects.

On May 5, 1999, Ernest married his wife Gabriele and embarked on a new adventure of love and partnership. Together they traveled, loved to visit casinos, and built a beautiful new home with a swimming pool where many grandchildren learned to swim. They loved to host family and friends for fun including swimming, karaoke, and good food. They partnered together, first in love and then in business endeavors with Gabi helping at Whitfield and Associates and Ernest helping Gabi with her Real estate license and business. He was a husband very much in love with his wife.

Ernest loved children, and spent many years volunteering at Egleston Hospital in Atlanta playing Santa Claus and bringing happiness and joy to sick children during Christmas. In later years, he continued to support the Children’s hospital through regular donations.

Funeral Services are as follows Visitation will be held on Friday 12/29/23 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, and 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.  The Funeral Service will be held  on Saturday 12/30/23 at 1:00 pm at the Funeral Home Chapel Byrd and Flanigan Crematory and Funeral Service 288 Hurricane Shoals Rd NE Lawrenceville, GA 30046.  The family requests no flowers be sent, but that those that wish to honor and remember Ernest can make a donation in his memory to his favorite charity, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Donations can be made by clicking the donate button at: https://choa.org

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ernest L. Whitfield Jr., please visit our floral store.

Services

REFLECTIONS WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Friday
December 29, 2023
1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Byrd & Flanigan Crematory and Funeral Service
288 Hurricane Shoals Rd NE
Lawrenceville, GA 30046