MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. – Earnest Edward Hite Jr., 53, of Michigan City, Ind., formerly of Champaign, was born Aug. 24, 1954, in Urbana, the oldest child of Earnest, Sr. and Dorothy L. Patterson Hite.

Earnest attended the Champaign public schools and graduated from Centennial High School in 1972. He received an associate of arts degree from Parkland College and pursued additional studies at the University of Illinois, Chicago State University and National Louis University. He was a member of the Salem Baptist Church and was active in the Baptist Training Union and Youth Choir. He also sang in the St. Luke C.M.E. Church Youth Choir.

He worked for many years as an HIV/AIDS health educator and youth worker for community based groups in East Central Illinois, Metropolitan Chicago and the San Francisco Bay area. At the time of his passing, he was working as a prevention manager for Better Existence with HIV.

Earnest's earthly journey ended suddenly Monday evening, Jan. 14, 2008, following a collision on a snowy, ice-slicked highway in Michigan City, Ind. He will be greatly missed by his mother of Champaign, a sister, Karen Hite of Champaign; and three brothers, Louis Hite of Birmingham, Ala., Darryl Hite of Rantoul and Marvin Hite of Peoria. He was preceded in death by his father and grandparents.

Services to Celebrate the Life of Earnest will be held at noon Saturday, (today) Jan. l9, 2008, at the Salem Baptist Church, 500 E. Park St., Champaign, with the Rev. Claude Shelby officiating. Burial will be in the Mount Hope Cemetery in Champaign. The Period of Reflection will be held l0 a.m. until noon Saturday at the church.

Compassionate and professional services were provided by Perry's Twin City Mortuary Service of Champaign.