Earnest " Peter" Leroy Valentine

Earnest Leroy Valentine, Sr., 70, of Martinsville, Virginia transitioned on Friday, August 30, 2024. He was born December 28, 1953, to the late Jessie Ben Valentine and Sara Redd Valentine.In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Mae Penn (Jesse); brothers, Colonel Valentine and Alphonso Valentine (Bernice); and granddaughter, Ta’Ni Valentine.Leroy was a minister for nearly 25 years and was the pastor at Ambassador for Christ Ministries. He received his doctorate from Jacksonville Theological Seminary. Earnest was a do-it-all kind of man. He loved to work with his hands building and working on anything and everything. Earnest built additions onto houses, and even did so to his own house and others. He was a great mentor to his children as well as other young people in his life. His brother and himself were known for their music group, The Valentine Brothers. Singing, playing the piano and organ were Earnest’s specialty. He was also a foster parent to many. In his free time, you could find him watching a few of his favorite television shows like, Judge Judy, Andy Griffith and the Golden Girls. He was known for cooking his famous apple pies. Leroy was a man who was loved by many and will be greatly missed.He is survived by his loving wife, Denice “Jackie” Blackstock Valentine; daughters, Cotena Valentine and Nyree Koger (LaFonza); sons, Earnest Valentine, Jr., and Marvin Blackstock (Kathy), Chad Blackstock,; sisters, Frances Bracey, Gloria Tanks (Riley), Wonda Hairston, Sara Morrison (Dan), Patricia Preston (Jerry), and Vanessa Simmons (Lewis); brothers, Fitzgerald Mayhan (Lorene) and Nathaniel Valentine (Lorraine); aunt, Mary Jane Via; 16 grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren; one special friend, Darren Morehead.The funeral will be Saturday, September 7, 2024, at 11 AM at Greater International Pentecostal Assembly Building, 980 Carver Road, Martinsville, Virginia, 24112 with Denice “Jackie” Valentine officiating. Burial will follow at Fair Haven Memorial Park. Visitation will be held on Friday, September 6, 2024, from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at Ambassadors for Christ Ministries, 241 Peter Hill Street, Eden, North Carolina, 27288,.At other times the family will receive friends at 225 Woodland Drive, Eden, North Carolina from 11:00 AM – 8:00 PM.Wright Funeral Service & Crematory is serving the family. Online condolences may be made at www.wrightfuneralservices.net