Ernie Lee Cannington, 89, of Fayetteville, Georgia went home to be with his Lord and Savior Sunday, April 8th, 2018.  Ernie's journey was sudden and unexpected, but he had prepared for this day early in his life.  A lifelong Georgian, he was born on Christmas Day in 1928 to Irene Spence Cannington and Arnold Lee Cannington in Stewart County.  After graduating from Lumpkin High School, he was drafted into the Army where he served from 1950 until 1953, before returning home and moving to Montgomery, AL to attend Massey Business College.  Ernie married his first wife Jessie Vinson of Eufaula, AL and with her raised their three young children in Atlanta until she lost her brave fight against cancer.  Thinking he would never be happy again, he was introduced by his brother to Barbara Rish Sinquefield, also a single parent to two small children following the tragic death of her husband.  Ernie and Barbara married and raised their blended family of 5 children, Buddy, Babbie, Terry, Cindy and Brenda, in East Point until moving to Fayetteville in 1977, where they resided until this day.  Ernie and Barbara were happily married for almost 50 years and treasured the love and affection of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  They did not say "my children", or "your children", but "our children".  Ernie taught Sunday School for 53 years, served as a church deacon for many of those years, and for a time, as chairman of the deacons.  He and Barbara were active members of McDonough Road Baptist Church where he was dearly loved by its members.  Ernie retired from Delta Airlines in 1993, after 32 years in finance.  Ernie leaves to cherish his memory his wife, Barbara; his son, William Ernie "Buddy" of Fayetteville; daughters, Babbie Sinquefield Spain of McDonough, Terry (Bill) Sinquefield Boger of Tryon, NC, Cynthia "Cindy" Lea (Bud) Welborn of Roswell, and Brenda (Susan) Cannington of Fayetteville; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren, and a sixth great-grandchild due in May.  He also leaves his brother and best friend, Horace Cannington of Cuthbert, and a sister Sara Harbin of Chatsworth. Ernie loved life, he loved his friends, and he cherished his family, but most importantly, he loved the Lord.

A funeral Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 at McDonough Road Baptist Church, Fayetteville with Dr. David Chancey and Reverend David Smith officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 PM on Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at Mowell Funeral Home, Fayetteville. A visitation will also be held from 6:00-8:00 PM on Wednesday, April 11, 2018 at Lunsford Funeral Home 54 Court Street Cuthbert, GA.  A graveside service will be held in his hometown at 10:00 AM on Thursday, April 12, 2018 at County Line Baptist Church Cemetery, Lumpkin, GA.

Ernie-"Daddy"-"Papa" will be sadly missed, but because we know where he now resides, we rejoice and celebrate.

Carl J. Mowell & Son Funeral Home, Fayetteville

Lunsford Funeral Home, Cuthbert