Henry Earl Triplett

January 6, 1949 - October 19, 2014

Henry Earl Triplett (affectionately known as Earl) was born January 6, 1949 to Henry Luther (preceded in death) and Gussie Lee Gordon in Louisville, MS. He moved to Chicago at a young age and was raised by the late Suffragan Bishop Cornelius Southern and his mother Founding 1st Lady Evangelist Gussie Southern. He received his formal education in the Chicago Public School System. He graduated from Hyde Park Academy High School in 1967. He later attended Washburn School of Trade. After several small jobs, he started working for NTN Ball Bearing Company, where he worked for 38 years until he retired. He met and married his sweetheart Betty Shaw from Stateway Gardens and to this union was born 2 children Marvin Terrell and Michelle Denise. He accepted Christ during his teenage years and was baptized in Jesus name and received the Holy Ghost. He along with Ruberta Hobson and Nancy Nickols started a youth choir at his father’s church where he was the Head Director. He had many musical influences of which Father Charles G. Hayes was his favorite (Nobody Can Turn Me Around; Still Away Jordan). Other roles he held in the church included: Assistant Brotherhood Chairman, Brotherhood Choir Director, Assistant Chairman of the Board, Pastor’s Aid committee member, Deacon and main offering plate holder. Deacon Earl was a faithful member at Grace Apostolic Faith Church under the leadership of his father Suffragan Bishop Cornelius Southern and continued under the leadership of his brother District Elder Maurice Southern. He was a very generous giver and there was nothing he wouldn’t do for the people he loved. He loved his grandchildren dearly. He had several favorite sayings like “Stay With Me”, “You Happy Now”, “Listen and You’ll Learn Something”, and “You Worked Hard To Get There”. He loved playing games such as Chinese Checkers, Scrabble, and Softball. He was also known for “Earl’s Famous Kool-Aid” and being a fashionably stylish dresser. He leaves to cherish his memories: his loving wife of 43 years Betty Triplett, son Marvin Triplett (Angela), daughter Michelle Triplett-Harris (Nolan); his mother Founding 1st Lady Evangelist Gussie Southern; Southern sisters and brothers, Cornelius, Larry, Veronica, Beverly Green (Lawrence), District Elder Maurice (1st Lady Rhonda), Charles (Nakita); extended brothers and sisters Elder Tubbie Gordon (Iris), Colie Gills (Felix), Ann Gordon, Ronald Kimble (Lisa), Anita Marie Nelson; Triplett brothers and sisters Erma Jean Carter (Ralph), Austin, Deborah Baker, Lynnora Gilliam, Marcus; 10 grandchildren Jalissa, Alan, Kenya, Adonya, Nolan Jr., Alexis, Franklin, Angela, Timothy, and Michael; 2 God-daughters Lauren Harris and Gabrielle Cales; his oldest Auntie Hallie Carlton, special friend Minister David Holeman; a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, GAFC church family, co-workers, and friends.