Ernestine Floore was born on July 16, 1934 in East St. Louis, Illinois to the union of George Young and Katie Haire Young, the 2nd born of twins. Her entire life was lived in East St. Louis, Illinois with childhood and early childhood in the South End of the City.

Ernestine attended Dunbar Elementary School and the old Lincoln High School (7th-12th grades). While at Lincoln, she was an active participant in the Glee Club.

Ernestine was baptized as a teenager by the late Rev. C.J. Jones at the Lawrence Street Baptist Church (now New Jerusalem) along with her sister Carrie Lee and friends Verdena Robinson, Bernice Noble, and Mildred Tucker. She later joined the Shining Light M.B. Church under the leadership of Rev. Joe Thomas and later united with the First Freewill Baptist Church of East St. Louis under the leadership of Eldress Dorothy Fleming. At First Freewill (now under the leadership of Elder Gregory Donaldson, her pastor, nephew and friend), Ernestine served on the Mother's Board and was President of the Pastor's Aid. She served faithfully until her health began to fail.

Ernestine was married to Ed Nicholson and this union was blessed with a son and a daughter, Michael Rene Nicholson and Gail Yvette Nicholson. She later was married to the love of her life, William Earl Floore and their union was blessed with six children William (Larry), Lannie (Flan), Marquita (Queet), Selwyn, George (Baby George), and Felicia (Lisa).

Ernestine was employed by the Charles Todd Laundry & Coverall Services in St. Louis, MO. In her early adulthood, she became a Licensed Cosmetologist in the 1980's and was employed by So. 15th Street Beauty Shop under Mrs. Lavonia Stokes. After which she worked at the Metro East Health Services Council as an Outreach Worker; at Tim & Joe's Restaurant as a Cook, and the Gateway Rehabilitation Center, Caseyville, IL from where she retired as a Licensed Cook in 1995.

Ernestine, affectionately known as "Lil Bit", was a very kind soul. She was fun, loving, social, and a very nurturing person. SHE LOVED HER FAMILY. She always enjoyed being around her family and friends. Her home, wherever she lived, was always open to her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins, her friends, adopted children from the neighborhood, and anybody who needed a place to stay. You could always count on "Lil Bit" for a kind word, for fun, for a party, hospitality, good food, or the shirt off of her back. She was an excellent cook, a gifted interior decorator, a loving and devoted mother, grandmother, great grandmother, Godmother, aunt, sister, and friend.

Ernestine departed this life for her HOME IN GLORY, on Tuesday, January 12, 2021, while an impatient at Memorial Hospital in Belleville, IL. with her family in attendance.

Ernestine was preceded in death by her parents George "Papa" Young and Katie "Mama Katie" Young; her twin brother whom she loved dearly, Ernest "Fat" Young; seven sister Mrs. Mary Ella Hamilton, Mrs. Minnie Lee Tiller, Mrs. Emma Dee Williams, Mrs. Betty Creer, Mrs. Carrie Lee Hampton, Ms. Sara Young, and Mrs. Christine Chaney; two sons Michael R. Nicholson and Selwyn Floore; and two additional loving sons Dean "Pokey" Floore and Douglas "Stunky" Floore.

To cherish her memories, Ernestine leaves seven sons William (Larry) (Mary) Floore, George (Tisha) Floore, Patrick (Janice) Campbell, William (Tee) Floore, Pierre (Mary Ann) Floore, Stephen (Mary) Monigan, and Cornell Tundstall; four daughters Gail Nicholson, Lannie Floore Dean, Marquita Floore Barnes, and Felicia Floore Williams; 20 grandchildren LaVeda (Papoose), Sherkitha (Tammy), Dameon (Day-Day), Darius, Maqkeia (Kee-Kee), Michael (Darnell), Amosnee (Star), Markiana (Baby-Girl), Selwyn (Fred), Kearron (Bo-Bo), Jasmine (Jazz), Chelsa (Tu-Tu), and Brittany Nicholson; Additional grandchilodren are Michael D. Floore, Richard Rockett, Monica Floore, E-Tanae & Shyree; adopted grandsons Kimo Davis, Al Stewart, Kindrick Johnson, and Jermon Williams; special great-granddaughter JaMoznee (My-My) Williams; 43 great grandchildren; numeroud great-great-grandchildren; one brother Dr. John T. (Rhonda) Young (Indianapolis, IN); special dear sister-in-law Martha E. Young; three dear childhood friends Ethel Anderson Taylor, Rosie Hurst, and Mildred Tucker McCullum; so, so, many nieces, nephews, dozens & dozens of cousins, friends, and acquaintances.

ERNESTINE - You were Loving and Kind in all your ways, so Willing to Help, so Quick to Praise, Sincere and True in your Heart and Mind, Beauiful Memories You Leave Behind.