RIPLEY - Earnest Columbus Sweatman, 86, died Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007, at Golden Living Center in Ripley. He was born July 12, 1921, to the late Ples C. and Margaret Richardson Sweatman. He was one of the founding members of West Ripley Baptist Church where he served as a deacon , a RA teacher and a Sunday school teacher. He was a retired maintenance supervisor for the Mississippi Army National Guard with 27 years of service. He was in the CCC camp from 1938-1940. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II from 1941-1945 where he served for two years in the South Pacific. He was a member of the VFW and the Ripley Masonic Lodge #47, he was a 32 degree Mason.

Services will be at 2 p.m., today at Ripley Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Bill Baker and Bro. Randy Hamilton officiating. Burial will be in Tippah Memorial Garden with full Military Honors.

Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Louise Henry Sweatman of Ripley; one daughter, Carolyn Louise Nabors and husband, Nicky, of Ripley; one sister, Elaine McMillin of Falkner; one brother, Fagin Sweatman and wife, Ouida, of Ripley; two grandchildren, Melissa Terry and husband, Quince, of Lafayette, La., and Melanie Kincaid and husband, Roger, of Ripley; two stepgrandchildren, Brian and Brett Benson; six great-grandchildren, Brittney Whitted and husband, Shane, James Ambrose and wife, Brandi, Chloe Terry, Jayce Terry, Dalton Kincaid and Carlie Kincaid.

Pallbearers will be Nicky Nabors, Roger Kincaid, Quince Terry, James Ambrose, Brian Benson and Terry Wooley. Honorary pallbearers will be the deacons and Adult Men's Sunday School class of West Ripley Baptist Church.

To view obituaries online and sign guest book, visit www.ripleyfuneralhome.com.