Sadly, Ernest was called home on December 21st, 2018, after a brief illness from a stroke that suddenly occurred in June. Ernest Holiday was born on June 18, 1956 in Philadelphia, to Ernest Holiday, Sr. and Betty T. Holiday. He attended Philadelphia Public schools from grades K-12.
He graduated from Olney Senior High School. Upon graduation, he attended and was accepted by Lincoln University. He earned and graduated from Lincoln University in 1979 with a BS degree in Political Science.
From an early age Ernest excelled. He was a standout athlete in high school but unfortunately got sidetracked by the neighborhood distractions. Despite this fact, he found a way not only to attend college but to pay for it himself.
After graduating he spent his earlier career working in sales and retail. During this time he achieved accolades and awards including an all expense trip to Hawaii for high sales achievement which started his enjoyment of traveling. Ernest’s next career was the pursuit of education.
After attending both Cheyney and Lehigh University he earned two masters degrees in both Educational Administration and Social Studies allowing him to teach middle and high school. During this time he taught himself coding languages and earned certification in Computer Science while also teaching at Wagner Middle School. When involved in computer science, he was asked by a California based company to produce a program Straight As in 30 days for students to use computer based software to improve their academic performances.
He eventually was promoted to School Leadership within Wagner Middle School which catapulted him to principal and administrator at Delaware Valley Charter High School. While there he accomplished much for his students and community. This was particularly true for the sports programs he supported where the Boys Basketball team was able to win both the Philadelphia Public League and District Championships.
His early interest in sports motivated and afforded him the opportunity. He coached all three of his sons in basketball, baseball and golf. His passion later in years was with the sport golf and sailing 36-40 feet sailboats.
Not only was Ernest passionate in sports and academics, he loved to travel around the world for both business and pleasure with his family. Countries traveled were Germany; China; Italy; Mexico; Dominican Republic, France, England and others. He earned the opportunity to be an educational ambassador in Oxford, England and a Province in China.
Ernest encouraged and was able to ensure all three of his sons attend and complete college through hard work and sacrifice. Ernest will be greatly missed by his wife, Kim of 38 years whom he dated since the tender age of 12. They virtually grew up together because they were separated by only one city block from each other.
He has three accomplished sons, Troy, a Philadelphia School district teacher. Justin and Maximillian who inherited his business in homecare based out of Pittsburgh. He will be missed by his mother Betty Holiday who is 84 years old; mother and father-in laws, Shirley and Fred Southerland; his two brothers Stephen and sister in law Chalonda and Craig; brother in law, Mark Southerland; sister in law Lisa Holiday wife to his late brother, Tyrone Holiday; his sister Carolyn and brother in law Jack; daughter in law Christina; nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and family.
A viewing will be from 10:00AM until 11:00AM with a funeral service at 11:00AM on Friday, January 4, 2019 at the MT. AIRY CHURCH of GOD in CHRIST CHURCH, 6401 Ogontz Ave. , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Entombment will follow the funeral service and the repast will held at the church.
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