"I've Got A Home Prepared Just Over In Glory Land" Ernestine Dillard, age 81, resident of Tulsa, OK joined the heavenly choir on Thursday, February 16, 2023, at Hillcrest Medical Center, Tulsa, OK.

Ernestine Marcus Buntyn Dillard was born August 25, 1941, in Nesbit, Mississippi to the late Ernest and Christine Yarbrough Harris Towns. She was the fifth child of seventeen in their blended family.

Ernestine professed hope and dedication to Christ at an early age in the church she grew up in, Riverside Missionary Baptist Church, in which her parents were also members. Ernestine would later become a member of Greater White Stone Baptist Church, both located in Memphis, TN. She served faithfully at both churches, even forming a community choir named The Divine Messenger Corale, with her then-husband the late John Ray Buntyn.

Ernestine was a proud alumnus of Manassas High School class of 1960. Shortly, after graduating she married the late Charles J. Marcus, Sr., and to their union, three children were born. During her marriage, she attended and graduated from Memphis State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing. She worked for many years at St Joseph Hospital and St Jude Hospital in Memphis, TN.

She later married the late John Ray Buntyn, and to their union one child was born, together they had a blended family of ten. During their marriage, they traveled extensively throughout the country with their community choir, The Divine Messenger Chorale. The exposure that the chorale received was the catalyst of her great musical legacy.

Later in life, she was blessed to meet the man that God specifically designed for her the late Elder Loomus Dillard, together that had a blended family of seven, then the lord blessed them to adopt two more children for a total of nine. They were happily married for over forty years. They traveled throughout the world spreading the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Through song, preaching, healing, teaching, and witnessing to all walks of life; because of her selflessness and dedication the Lord opened many doors that no man could close.

Mrs. Dillard resigned from a 30-year nursing career and has now traveled extensively ministering at christian events throughout the United States, Paris, France, Turkey, and the Bahamas. She has been blessed to visit Africa on medical mission trips and states that the work was life changing.  Mrs. Dillard has performed for numerous conventions, special memorial celebrations and observances, christmas concerts, CNN's Trumpet Awards, local and national television shows christian and secular, also many benefit and fund raising events. She has received many awards and honors because of her community service and work with young people. She has received: The W. C. Handy Heritage Award, Tulsa Public School's Excellence Award for Volunteers, Lane College Meritorious Award, just to mention a few. Notably, she became known as "The Voice that Healed the Nation," after singing her specially arranged rendition of "God Bless America" at the Oklahoma City Bombing  Memorial in Oklahoma City in 1995. She is an Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame Inductee and she has been proclaimed a "Living Legend" by 'The Society, Inc. Ernestine has many awards from State and National Political Organizations, Community Interest Organizations, Churches and Medical Organizations. Ernestine  is also  blessed to serve often with The Tulsa Praise Orchestra. A big band orchestra known for it's Gospel/Patriotic musical performances.

Mrs. Dillard's career has given her the opportunity to perform for three Presidents of the United States President Reagan, President Clinton and President Obama and 1 ^st Lady Obama at the Trumpet Awards. She has sang for many State and National Political leaders including General Colin Powell. Ernestine has sung in the presence of and with well-known celebrities such as Simon Estes, Isaac Hayes, Jessye Norman, and on Oral Roberts television broadcasts, Make Today Count and The Billy Graham Crusade in Oklahoma and with many more renowned musicians. She has sung with leading symphonies (i.e.) Memphis, Oklahoma, Jackson and Big Band orchestras.  Most of all she sings always for the Glory of God!

Ernestine was selected as a finalist from 145 entrants to compete with professionally trained female vocalists in the prestigious Savannah On Stage "American Traditions" competition.

Her 30-minute musical presentation including her "God Bless America" medley, she received a standing ovation and she was awarded the gold medal first prize.  With this honor came an invitation to tour with Ms. Della Reese and an invitation to perform at the Kennedy Center.  She has performed in The National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Recently sang for 125 ^th year anniversary of the "Statue of Liberty" In New York. "WHAT A BLESSING!!" Throughout all of her accomplishments and awards, if you asked her, what she was most proud of she would say, "Being a child and vessel of God, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, an aunt and a teacher. She would often say I am honored that he chose a little girl from Nesbit, Mississippi, to be a light for him to help guide his people to him. It is totally Awesome."

She was proceeded in death by her parents; her husband; one son Bishop John R Buntyn Jr.; three brothers, James Harris, O.D. Harris and Jerry Towns; three sisters: Cherry Hardaway, Erma Harris, Clara Towns. She leaves to cherish her memory and legacy ten daughters: Tonnie (Boris) Nichols, Dr. Lawana Marcus, Loretta Buntyn, Patricia (Ronald) Cobbs, Beverly (Cleo) Thomas, Sylvia (Benjamin) Poindexter, Yolanda Walton, Camilla Dillard, Patricia Dillard and Atisha Dillard; five sons: Charles (Sandra) Marcus, Timothy (Rachel) Buntyn, Rudy Buntyn, Bishop Kenneth (Ann) Buntyn and Silvio Dillard; her grandchildren: Brandy Smith, Kesha Smith, Brian Smith Jr., Candace Smith, Charles Marcus III, April Marcus, Charity Marcus; fourteen great-grandchildren; four sisters: Bonnie Grayson, Joyce Rayner, Carolyn Kendrick and Angela Smith; two brothers: Ernest L Harris and Jimmy (Darlene) Towns and a host of other relatives, nieces, nephews and friends. She also leaves a special niece that was and is a daughter to her in everyway possible, her and her family have always been there whenever she needed her Danyelle (Jon) Griffin and her children: Ajarese Griffin, Mario Griffin, Ajia Griffin, Martez Griffin, Antton Pickett, Janelle Griffin and Janiyah Griffin.

A Love Note from Ernestine;

Drink from the cup, it's your turn.

God sees us through, His yoke is easy.

A Home Going Celebration will be held on Saturday, February 25, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. at Boston Avenue United Methodist Church, 1301 S Boston Ave., Tulsa, OK with Rev. Dr. Stacey Cole eulogizing. Public visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m., there will be no viewing after the service. Interment will be on Monday, February 27, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. in the Fort Gibson National Cemetery in Fort Gibson, OK.

The family has been cared for by House of Winn Funeral Home-Muskogee

Arrangements are pending with House of Winn Funeral Home-Muskogee.