Ernest Stone, Jr. 73, of Minotola, New Jersey, passed away after an extended illness on Saturday, March 1, 2024. He was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey on July 4, 1951, and is the eldest of seven children, born to the late Ernest, Sr., and Babe Ruth (Dixon) Stone. Ernest, Jr. is predeceased by his parents, the late Ernest Stone, Sr., Babe Ruth Stone, and his brother Nicky Ray Stone.

Ernest was educated in the Buena Regional School District and attended high school at Vineland Senior High. He held various jobs in auto repair and food service for years. His career-changing job came when he joined Oncore Cleaning Services and Bell Atlantic Properties in Cherry Hill and
Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, where he worked as a Cleaning Supervisor, overseeing building porters and cleaners for over ten years, at East Gate, Moorestown Mall, and multiple commercial properties in the Cherry Hill and Mt. Laurel office complexes.

As a small child, Ernie "Rocky" lived in Mizpah with his parents, siblings, and extended Dixon family. He and the family moved to Richland, NJ as he entered grammar school. In the early '70s Ernie moved to Vineland, and in 1975 welcomed his only son, Ernest Maurice Hill Stone, whom
he fondly called "Rhodie". Ernie lived in the Camden area over the past twenty-six years and relocated back to the area in 2023 as his health declined to be closer to his mother and family.

Ernie often attended Bethany Baptist Church, Lindenwold NJ, and enjoyed the teaching and music ministries there. Ernie loved football, fast cars, and music, especially Motown and Jazz, and back in the '70s, he was one of the first in Richland to own a Pontiac GTO. He loved to cook and was a Certified Cook, earning a certificate at Salem County Tech years ago. He had an affinity for Cadillacs and often talked about getting a new Cadillac Lyriq. Ernie was a rebel in his early days as a teenager and young adult, he blazed his path and made his own choices.

Ernie was a beloved father, grandfather, son, uncle, and friend. He enjoyed his 4th of July birthday celebrations with family and friends and was always the life of the party. He will be deeply missed by everyone who knew him.

Ernest Stone, Jr., is survived by his son, Ernest Maurice Hill Stone, of Omaha Nebraska, two granddaughters, and two grandsons; brother Dennis (Anna), of Wilsonville, Oregon, Erwin (Earl) of Vineland, NJ, three sisters, Myrnissa (Kenneth) Sumair of Long Island, NY, Lisa Stone, and Ruth E. Stone of Vineland, NJ; nieces Nikki (Spencer) Stone, Ciera Stone, and Joi (Daniel) Haley; grandnieces Tatiana, and Tenielle Sawyer of Tampa, Florida, Great grandnieces, A'Zyuri Rae Stovall, and Ayla Haley. Grandnephews Verdon Durham, Tysen Sawyer, Christon, Michael, and Kylan Stone, Great Grandnephews Kai Alexander Durham, and Daniel Hailey IV; and a host of cousins, and friends.