Ernest Jamerson Corley III

Ernest Jamerson Corley III, 62, of Columbia, South Carolina, entered eternal rest on December 20, 2025, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. He was surrounded by his loving family - his wife, Linda, and his children, McKenna and Preston.

Born August 4, 1963, in Columbia, Ernie was the son of Verdie and Ernest J. Corley Jr. He grew up in Columbia alongside his sisters, Karen and Kathy, and graduated from Brooklyn-Cayce High School in 1981. He went on to earn his degree in Electrical Engineering from Clemson University, a place that remained close to his heart for a lifetime.

Ernie built a distinguished career in engineering spanning nearly four decades. He began at NCR, supporting and developing server and chipset-related products in roles of increasing responsibility. He later joined Intel Corporation, where he spent more than two decades as a design and system validation engineer and engineering manager, contributing to major CPU and platform validation efforts before retiring in 2024.

Outside of work, Ernie was an avid college football fan and seldom missed watching his alma mater, the Clemson Tigers. In earlier years, he played harmonica in the established local band Elliott and The Untouchables. He had a lifelong interest in working with his hands, whether on cars or electronics, and occasionally spent weekends on the golf course.

In retirement, Ernie focused on personal projects and time with loved ones, finding enjoyment in things like designing home improvements, engineering 3D-printed creations, tinkering with electronics, and working on the family cars.

Ernie was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Linda; his children, McKenna and Preston; and his sisters, Karen and Kathy.

Services will be held at Union Methodist Church on January 10, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Dave Thomas Foundation.

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