Erna Douglas Grissette

Erna “Ernie” Douglas Grissette of Alpharetta, GA age 88 transitioned from this life to his heavenly home on August 7, 2026, surrounded by his loving family at Wellstar North Fulton Hospital in Roswell, GA. Affectionately called “Brother” by his siblings, Ernie was born the sixth child of nine in Youngstown, Ohio to the late Annie Mae and Robert Grissette, Sr. Ernie attended South High School, in Youngstown, Ohio where he played football and excelled as a student. He later attended Youngstown State University to play football until the discovery of an arrythmia sidelined his gridiron aspirations. Ernie enlisted as a private in the United States Marine Corp and did basic training at Camp LeJeune, NC and served as a Marine Corp reservist in Hartford, CT attaining the rank of lance corporal. He was honorably discharged. After relocating to Hartford, CT, Ernie met and married the late Mary Hendricks and to this union two children (Monique and Lantze) were born. Ernie valued strength of character, hard work, education, and the progress of Black people. He was the first Black corporate loan officer of a regional bank, Connecticut National Bank. He became an executive on loan to the Ebony Businessman’s League; a forerunner of the Urban League in Hartford CT. Ernie played a significant role in the Hartford Economic Development Corporation Inc. (HEDCO), where he worked tirelessly to help Black people start and own businesses in the 1970’s and 80’s. For his efforts, Ernie was mentioned by name in several Ebony Magazine articles that highlighted his notable contributions to the African American community and his professional accomplishments. Bit by the entrepreneurial bug, Ernie left banking and soon opened Fancy Free, a novelty store, but construction and general contracting became his loves. Through his business, Brookline Interior Contractors, LLC, he played a key role in the transformation of Bradley Field into what we now know as Bradley International Airport. However, he was most passionate about sharing the construction trade with formerly incarcerated men and those in need of life/career direction. Smitten for the second time, Ernie met and married Yvonne Duncan, creating a blended family with daughter Nikki and late father-in-law, Rudolph Duncan. Ernie was a great source of encouragement to his family, encouraging all educational and athletic pursuits, sharing wisdom, and supporting those efforts in any way he could, even to his own detriment at times. We celebrate that Ernie recommitted his life to Jesus Christ at an advanced age and joined St. James Community Church, Alpharetta, in 2024. We confidently know that he has reached his heavenly home. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Harold Grissette, Robert Grissette, a sister, LaRee Jackson, and nieces Tammy Steele and Kimberly Jackson. Ernie leaves to cherish his memories, daughter, Dr. Monique Grissette-Banks and caregiver, Alpharetta, GA. daughter Nikki Duncan de Almeida (Helder), Hyattsville, MD, Lantze W. Grissette, son, Alpharetta, GA, a grandchildren, Trinity Imani Banks, Atlanta, GA; Etienne and Esanjo de Almeida, Hyattsville, MD, sisters, Dorothy Grissett, Youngstown, OH and Hazel Steele, Campbell, OH, brothers Lester Grissette, Youngstown, OH, Arnold Grissette, Oakland, CA and Lincoln Grissette, Merced, CA a loving host of nieces, nephews, extended relatives and close friends Thomas Ortique, Godfrey “Blue” Taylor, Clarence “CJ” Thomas, Robert Crocker, Albert “Baldie” Tan, and Marc Thomas.

Erna Douglas Grissette

September 24, 1937 - August 7, 2026