Earnest Harold Perkins (“Coach”) was born on May 3, 1948 in Miami, Florida to Helen Lowery Perkins and Harold Perkins. He was an only child. 

Coach graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Miami “Overtown” Florida. He was recruited to play football and attended Allen University, the HBCU in Columbia, South Carolina. He also attended and graduated from Nova University. 

In 1976, Coach married the love of his life, Betty Jean Lumpkin Perkins, and became “Papa Perk” to her son William Bernard Sanford (deceased). 

Coach dedicated his life to serving the youth. He began his professional career with Dade County Parks & Recreation. He later served as Head Football Coach at Miami Edison Sr. High, North Miami Sr. High, Coral Park High, and Coral Reef High in Miami, Florida. He took his talents to Avon Park Florida where he served as Head Football Coach at Avon Park High School. His coaching career also includes working with the Bucktown Buccaneers a semi-Pro football league in Miami, Florida. 

His son Ernest, Jr. says, “To the world, he was larger than life. He was the Eagle, the Coach, the Warrior, the Conqueror, the bellowing voice - fastidious, exacting, precise, demanding, uncompromising -- but to me, he was the blueprint for how I interact with my son.” 

Coach Perkins leaves his memories to his wife Betty Jean Perkins; his children Erna Perkins Jones (Bernard) and Ernest H. Perkins, Jr. (Whitney); grandchildren, Erron D. Perkins, Ricardo E. Perkins-Campbell, Ernest Blake Massasoit Perkins, Benarah Sanford, Chris Sanford, Christian Sanford, DeAndra Sanford; great-grands, nieces, nephews, God-children, in-laws, other family members and friends who already miss him dearly.