Ernest Rivers, Jr.

Mr. Ernest Rivers, Jr., son of the Reverend Ernest Rivers & Mattie Agee Rivers Bryan; was born June 12, 1953, in Colleton County.  Reared in the Bennett’s Point area of Green Pond, Ernest was the eldest son of eight wonderful children.  He received his early education in the public school system and would graduate from Walterboro High School Class of 1971. 

As he became a man, he firmly believed in always working and providing for his family.  During his high school years, Ernest became a bus driver.  As time passed, Ernest furthered his studies and obtained his CDL. He became a long-distance truck driver, traveling across the country. From 1989-2000, he became employed with Best Steel of Walterboro, South Carolina. Some of his other companies include Bulldog Express, Clean Management, and various other companies.  In later years, Ernest wanted to continue helping and teaching people.  He began attending OC Tech of Orangeburg, South Carolina and would go on to become a state certified educator.  He immediately put his certification to work and began teaching with the Colleton County School District.  Ernest taught at: Forest Circle Middle School, Thunderbolt Career and Technology Center as a carpentry instructor; and even as an educator for students with special needs. 

“He that finds love, findeth a good thing.” During his tenure as a bus driver in high school, the love story began. Ernest met the “Apple of his eye”, La’Don Bassett and on May 8, 1972, these two became one. This union was blessed with four wonderful children, and over fifty-one years of love and devotion. These two built a family together, raised children, grandchildren, and some of everyone in their home; and did practically everything together. She was his “Baby or Don”, and he was her, “Baby or Junior’, the love between the two was indescribable and they were true best friends.  Even as his health began to decline, she remained by his side, up until his very last breathe. 

From youth until now, Ernest believed and reverenced God in all that he said and did.  Ernest was baptized in 1973 at the Jacksonville Road Church of Christ. After building a larger sanctuary, he became a member of Azalea Drive Church of Christ of North Charleston, South Carolina.  Ernest served diligently and whole heartedly, until his health would no longer allow him. 

The legacy of Ernest is beyond measure or words. Many of his nicknames amongst his friends and family, include: “Da, Daddy, Poppy, Bubba and even Rip Hawk” He spent his free time doing home remodeling. Some would call him a “Jack” of all trades and All-American Handyman. He also loved watching all kinds of sports, but his favorite was watching football. His love and his heart were his grandchildren and those whom he took to and reared in his home.  He was an amazing babysitter and number one supporter for all of them. He loved them so much, that he became a coach for one of the teams in which his grandsons played. 

During the early morning hours of Saturday: July 1, 2023, while along-side his loving wife, Ernest bade this world a final farewell as he departed the shores of time to join his Heavenly Father. As we remember his legacy that will embrace our hearts for an eternity, we will forever remember his life as it was truly well lived. Along with his parents, Ernest has gone to be reunited with two sons, Ernest “Nard” and Derrick Rivers: grandson, Nicholas Rivers; stepfather, German Bryan; brother, William “Billy” Rivers and sister, Lottie Bell Campbell.

Left on this side to capture the portraits of his life are, loving and devoted wife, La’Don Rivers: children, Thalia (James) Butler and Chantel “Candy” (Jeraldo) Brown: grandchildren reared in the home, Matthew, Jailyn, Cheyenne, Aaliyah and Ma’Kayla Rivers: grandchildren, Tabitha Hayes, Jamal Pinckney, Payton Rivers, Patton Rivers, Patrick Rivers, and Jada Fair: Great Grandchildren, Myles Waring, Meziah Waring, Haylie Washington and Summer McGee: daughters-in-law, Tabitha B. Rivers and NaTasha Rodgers-Rivers: Siblings, Ethel (John) Thompson, Larry (Helen) Rivers, Vera (Isadore) Harley, Charles (Yolanda) Rivers, Teen (Frank) Middleton, Fred (Angie) Rivers, Laurens Fields and Odessa Bryan: sisters-in-law, Gloria Yvonne Williams and Betty Simmons: brothers-in-law, Lawrence (Nell) Bassett and Dennis (Sharon) Bassett: aunts, Mary Williams and Martha “Elanor” Washington: god-children, Antwaun Tomlin, Harold Nesbitt and Breanna Smalls-McVay: two special caretakers, Ernestine Stevens and Shamera Stephens: along with a host of numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, classmates and friends. 

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