Ernest Leon Perkins

On Wednesday, May 5, 2021, Ernest Leon Perkins passed away in the early morning hours from complications due to a stroke at the age of 80.
Ernest was born on July 3, 1940 in Wyandotte, MI to John and Hildreth (Foreman) Perkins. He was the youngest and last surviving of 4 children.

Ernest was enlisted in the United States Navy in April of 1958 at the age of 17. He started his Navy career in Helicopter Utility Squadron HU-2 and HU-4 in Lakehurst, New Jersey, has served aboard the LPH-8 Valley Forge, has been stationed at Whiting Field, Moffett Field, Patuxent River and retired his Navy career at Jacksonville Naval Air Station in Patrol Squadron VP-5 "Mad Foxes" where he had achieved the rank of Aviation Structural Mechanic Senior Chief Petty Officer, AMSC. Additionally, after retirement, he served at AIMD in NAS Jacksonville for three more years from 1978-1981. Ernest then spent time in Real Estate where he worked at Latham Real Estate in Orange Park, FL. Ernest was well liked and loved by everyone that met him.

He was preceded in death by his oldest sister, Marjorie, brother, Avorie, and sister Lois.

He married Jesusa Maraya on May 4, 2013. He has two surviving children, George Alan and Cheryl Denise from his marriage to his first wife Irene Perkins (Keathley), resulting in six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Additionally, Ernest was married to Yana Wilson from 1997 through 2010.

He is survived by his two children, George and Cheryl and his current wife, Jesusa and her children, Kathleen Mae and Mariel Anne.

 A memorial service will be held on Friday, May 21, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Aaron and Burney Bivens Funeral Home, 529 Kingsley Avenue, Orange Park, FL 32073, (904) 264-1233.

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