Mrs. Ernestine Fairley McLeod, age 100, was born in Perry County, Mississippi. She was the youngest of three children born to Peter and Katie Fairley and the oldest and last surviving member of her generation from the Pleasant Hill Community. She lived during the times when "colored people" were segregated, uneducated, and treated as second class citizens. Her heritage was compromised by a lack of education and job opportunities. As a young adult, she realized hard work, education, and the value of family were significant if one was to be successful in life. Mrs. Ernestine was an avid reader with a strong desire for information, which impacted her friends and the surrounding community. She attended school at White Oak, Pleasant Hill Church School, and St. John School when it opened in Janice MS. With her sweet spirit, she had many friends in the community.

As an activist for mankind, she is considered to be one of "The Community Historians". She was known for maintaining historical data of the Pleasant Hill Cemetery and community. Mrs. McLeod believed that families should know their roots. She realized the struggles made by our forefathers and families. She was the representative of her community and served proudly. She led voter registration drives and she voted from the first time that she was allowed to vote until this last election. Mrs. McLeod had a motto that she shared with everyone: "Pray…Speak Up…Vote".

Mrs. Ernestine was very active in the church prior to her illness. She served as an usher and treasurer of the Baptist Training Union and President of the Pleasant Hill Cemetery Club. She furthered her spiritual growth by participating in seminars under the leadership of Mrs. Mattie Hall, a spiritual leader within the Pleasant Hill Community. She was embraced by both the Methodist and Baptist faiths. She was of the Methodist faith until she married Mr. W. L. McLeod who was Baptist. After marriage, she joined her husband at the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. As an usher, her radiant smile displayed her love for order and greeting others as she welcomed friends and family into the house of the Lord.

She was employed at Keesler Air Force Base (Biloxi, MS), St. Johns Head Start (Janice Community), and the Boy Scouts of America, ("Camp Attawah", Perry County). She retired from Ashe Nursery after many years (Brooklyn MS).

Mrs. Ernestine was preceded in death by her loving husband, William Louis McLeod Sr.; daughter, Ariel Dykes; son, William Louis McLeod, Jr.; sisters, Dorothy Fairley, Clementine Breland.

She leaves to cherish her memory, daughters; Wilhelmina (Peaches) Breland, Neicee Rose, Katie(Rev. Hubert, Sr.) Jackson, Dorothy (George) Lyttle, Rose Jones, Cherroal Davis.  Mrs. Ernestine was the Matriarch of five generations. At the age of 100, she was the grandmother of 13 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, and 10 great-great-grandchildren.