Ernest L. Mason, Jr.

Ernest L. Mason Jr., 77 of Virginia Beach, VA and the Bronx, NY, passed away on July 8,2025 in the City of Virginia Beach, VA.

Ernest, affectionately known as “Chick”, was born in Princess Anne County, VA to Ernest L. Mason Sr. and Evelyn L. Spruill on March 31, 1948. Early childhood education was in Princess Anne County Schools in Virginia, Ruffner Junior and Booker T. Washington High School in Norfolk, VA. During his senior year at Booker T. Washington High School, he moved to New York City, completing his last months at Theodore Roosevelt High School Bronx, New York. Early adulthood included training and work with New York’s youth Anti-Poverty programs like Harlem’s HARYOU-ACT and the Urban League.

In 1968 he married Patricia A. Evans and started building and raising a family with their daughters, Donna D. Evans, Cheryl Mason and later, Keisha M. Mason. Early years of work as a US Postal Mailman for the Grand Central Station Post Office, part-time work with UPS and driving a New York City Cab. Ernest, always moving forward, applied for and was accepted to the Albert Merrill Computer Programming Institute of Manhattan, New York. Upon graduation he enrolled in classes at City University of New York (CUNY), Bronx Community College. After completing the two-year Computer Programming Program, he landed his first computer position jump starting his career in the Information Technology Industry and within a few years acquired a position as the Computer Operation Manager at the NCR Corporation Metropolitan Data Center of Manhattan, New York and later as a Computer Software Programmer. Several years into his career and after completing his education with a BS in Computer Science from American Century University of New Mexico his career took off he began Developing, Designing, Installing Computer Application Software for Fortune 100 and 500 Companies from Madison and Fifth Ave to Wall Street in Manhattan, New York. Several years later after moving his family to the City of Virginia Beach and acquiring positions of Project Team Management with US Naval Centers and working across the Country to the Middle East for Major Defense Contractors to a career that lasted 50 years, which included several IT Consulting LLC and start-up Businesses.

Ernest’s love for athletic sports (Football and Basketball) allowed him to play for many teams. During his Junior year at Booker T. Washington High School and playing in Norfolk Recreation Centers, later playing in Bronx Community College Intramural Team Tournaments, New York City Rucker Adult Pro Summer League Teams and later several years in Viginia Beach Recreation Centers Adult Basketball Tournaments.

Ernest was predeceased by father, Ernest L. Mason Sr.; mother, Evelyn L. Wiggins; brothers, Ernest L. Cason Jr., Billy Ellis; aunts, Lena “Mother Dear” Woodhouse and Gloria King.

He is survived by his daughters; grandchildren, Kevin, Dorethea, Darrell, Eva, Jeffrey, Crystal Tyfani, Shykyla (Jeff), Tyona; great grand kids; sister, Emily Cason Jones and Family; aunt and uncle, Lorraine and Josephus Godfrey and Family; cousins, Mary O. Woodhouse, Allen and Elaine Woodhouse and Family, Arlene Cambell and Family, Virginia Sanders and Family, Bobby and Ruby Anthony and Family; sister-in-laws, Sonja Cason, Mary Ellis and Family. Lastly, three best friends Donald, Bruce and Ronnie. Ernest had a host of extended family and friends that will all miss him dearly.