Brookhaven - Bernard "Bernie" J. Ebbers ran in to the arms of Jesus on February 2, 2020, surrounded by his family in Brookhaven, Miss. Bernie was born on August 27, 1941 and was 78 years old at the time of this death.
Bernie Ebbers was many things to many people, but the greatest role he ever had was being a father to his girls. Bernie invested in people's lives and the fingerprints of his charity continue to endure today on many. From providing tuition and support to students to funding mission activities, Bernie made a lasting impact on many people's lives, often anonymously.
Bernie began as a coach and took that approach in every aspect of life. He encouraged and motivated on a personal level to the benefit of everyone. He and Linda loved basketball and raising their daughters. They also loved Brookhaven and its people where he had a passion for leading Sunday School and they participated in mission work for years.
Bernie's life and how he loved people has left an impact on the lives of all who knew him. Bernie never stopped teaching others about the Lord, leading his family, and spreading the love of Christ, no matter his circumstances. The Ebbers family is especially grateful to have been by his side for the last weeks of his life here on earth.
Bernie is preceded in death by his parents, Kathleen Mary and John Tony Ebbers, and grandchildren Baby Easley and Bernie Ellen Gates.
He is survived by Linda Ebbers, daughters Ave Easley (David), Treasure Ebbers Beeson (Dwayne), Joy Ebbers Bourne, Faith Ebbers Gates (Michael); grandchildren Nathanael Easley, Rachel Easley, Gabryelle Easley; Jordan Beeson Stewart (Jacob), Jonathan Beeson, Juliana Beeson; Truett Bourne, Elizabeth Bourne; Emma Gates, Lillie Gates, Ruth Ellen Gates, Mary Michael Gates; great-grandson Elliott Bernard Stewart; brothers John Ebbers, James Ebbers, and Stephen Ebbers; and a sister Marion Olthuis.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 6 p.m. on Saturday, February 8, 2020, at First Baptist Church of Brookhaven, with visitation from 4-6 pm. Friends and family are encouraged to dress "Bernie casual." In lieu of flowers, please consider giving to Casa de Fe via Hope Extended, PO Box 519, Brookhaven, MS 39601.
Condolences and other information are available online at www.riverwoodfamily.com.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 6 p.m. on Saturday, February 8, 2020, at First Baptist Church of Brookhaven, with visitation from 4-6 pm. Friends and family are encouraged to dress "Bernie casual."
Published in Clarion Ledger from Feb. 4 to Feb. 5, 2020
In November, 1998, Bernie made the WIRED 25 and this is what they wrote:
"It's all over. Bernard Ebbers of WorldCom has won," cyber evangelist George Gilder gleefully announced to the world's telco titans back in October 1997. The upstart had bounded audaciously past GTE and BT to hand in the triumphant bid for MCI. But the victory was symbolic of something far greater than a gutsy acquisition of a company three times the size of one's own. Bernie was beating the Bells at their own game.
Ebbers wants to be the world's local phone company. The president and CEO of MCI WorldCom is piecing together a multinational network that neatly circumvents pricey access fees charged by local telcos in the US and abroad and offers end-to-end service from anywhere to anywhere on the planet.
Ebbers's critics snipe that when he bought MCI he spent US$37 billion for nothing but a collection of antiquities, referring to MCI's old-fashioned circuit network. Yet one-third of MCI WorldCom's revenues already come from Internet service via IP packet switching, which keeps alive his dream of making it so that any call initiated in his network never leaves it.
"It's all over. Bernard Ebbers of WorldCom has won," cyber evangelist George Gilder gleefully announced to the world's telco titans back in October 1997. The upstart had bounded audaciously past GTE and BT to hand in the triumphant bid for MCI. But the victory was symbolic of something far greater than a gutsy acquisition of a company three times the size of one's own. Bernie was beating the Bells at their own game.
Ebbers wants to be the world's local phone company. The president and CEO of MCI WorldCom is piecing together a multinational network that neatly circumvents pricey access fees charged by local telcos in the US and abroad and offers end-to-end service from anywhere to anywhere on the planet.
Ebbers's critics snipe that when he bought MCI he spent US$37 billion for nothing but a collection of antiquities, referring to MCI's old-fashioned circuit network. Yet one-third of MCI WorldCom's revenues already come from Internet service via IP packet switching, which keeps alive his dream of making it so that any call initiated in his network never leaves it.
Posted and maintained by Kevin Crothers, a big fan of Mr. Bernie Ebbers