Earnestine Overton Lett

Earnestine Overton Lett, or “Tina,” was a beloved mother, grandmother, aunt, and cousin during her incredible 85 years of life. She passed away peacefully in the early hours of Tuesday, January 23, 2024.
Earnestine Overton Lett (85) was born on March 23, 1938, in Capels, West Virginia. She is the daughter of Samuel Overton Sr. and Robbie Mae Patterson Overton. Earnestine attended Kimball High School, where she graduated. She was a member of the Eastern Stars in her earlier years. Earnestine was a board member of the CMHA for many years in Cleveland, Ohio, where she often advocated for better resources for her community.
Earnestine’s greatest treasured gift on this earth was being a mother to her two sons, Robert Overton and Ernest Overton Sr., whom she loved dearly. She was always supportive and encouraging, always wise and kind, and she was so proud of them both.
Earnestine never complained and always looked forward to a better future. She always saw the good in every person and in any situation. She loved to dance, travel, cook, and talk on the phone with her family and friends. She often held fish fry events at community gatherings alongside her loved ones to bless those around her with her passion for cooking. She attended many senior jamborees and line dances with her family and friends. She enjoyed listening to records of the likes of blues and jazz. Earnestine loved to travel and would often take trips down to Las Vegas, where she eventually made her permanent residence in 2007.

Earnestine’s favorite role was that of a grandmother, whom everyone called “granny.” She treasured her time with her grandchildren and loved being their granny: James Graves (Cleveland, OH); Ernest Overton Jr. (Dickinson, ND); Ashley Overton (Cleveland, OH); Joaquina “Trini” Morgan (Watford City, ND); Christian Overton (Las Vegas, NV); James Robinson-Adams (Las Vegas, NV); and great-grandchildren Alysia, Jayden, Jared Jr., Kinley, Omari, Riley, Luna, Treyton, Brielle, and Kaylynn, Bethany, Dejon, Desmond, and Desiria. Great-great grandchildren, Layla.

She was survived by sons Robert (Trina) Overton of Cleveland, OH; Ernest Overton Sr. of Las Vegas, NV; one brother Robert Lee (Annette) Jackson of Nashville, TN; one sister Shirley (Charles) Madison of Winterhaven, FL; two sister-in-laws Betty Overton of Alexandria, VA; and Arlene Overton of Charlotte, NC; six grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, and a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Earnestine is preceded in death by her parents, husband James Lett brothers Percy Overton and Samuel Overton Jr., sisters Lillian Alexander and Jean Mayhew, daughter-in-law Twan Overton, grandsons Telly Lorenzi and Sterling Shobe, and granddaughter Luna Bell.

A memorial service will be held at McDermott Funeral on February 17