Minister Ernest Sharon Underwood, passed away August 22, 2025.He came from Halls, Tennessee, born January 25, 1934. He went to Nankipoo Grade School and graduated from Halls High School under the name "Toad Underwood." A nickname given by his mother because when he sat on the floor as a boy, he looked like a toad. It stuck; few in Halls Tennessee know him as Ernest Underwood, but folks of his time all know "Toad."

He liked to say he was the son of a sharecropper. People of modern age hardly know what that is; essentially you don't own the land you farm, and the owner gets a portion of the crop for rent. He grew up poor but didn't know it. He was happy to be drafted into the Army during the Korean war.

He married and is survived by Shirley Irene Stephenson at the age of 23 and remained married for 68 years. They had 4 children, 2 of which (Susan and Stephen) preceded him in death, with Mike and Jennifer surviving along with 10 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren, and his brother, B.C. Ernest was a preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ for 65 years.

Ernest lived under the charge of "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching," preaching for the churches of Christ in several of the United States and, with a Master's degree in Biblical Studies, he taught in the distant lands of Russia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Africa, India, Bermuda, and Neves. His love was taking the gospel to those who had not heard it and training young men to do the same in their native tongues.

Ernest leaves this plain of existence on August 22, 2025 for the welcoming arms of Jesus who is Christ, the Son of God. By the grace of God he can now say, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing."

A memorial service was held on Saturday, August 30, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. from the Blue Ridge Church of Christ. The family visited with friends at the church prior to the service from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.

He will be laid to rest at the Antioch Church of Christ Cemetery in Halls, Tennessee at a later date.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.akinscobb.com

Akins-Cobb Funerals & Cremations of Blue Ridge, GA was in charge of these arrangements.