Hensley "Earl" Augustas McLarty
June 19, 1964 – October 21, 2024

Hensley Augustas McLarty, known fondly as "Early Bird" to his mother and "Earl" by most, was born on June 19, 1964, in Kingston, Jamaica. He was the second of three children born to Keithley and Millicent McLarty, and the beloved middle sibling to Horace and Sandra.

At the age of five, Earl's family moved to the U.S. and settled in White Plains, New York. It was there that Earl's love of sports flourished as he played basketball.  He attended Woodlands High School in Hartsdale, NY, eventually graduating in 1984.

Earl was a man of many talents and diverse experiences. He worked various jobs, from cooking at KFC to being a bank teller and even repairing electronics at Crazy Eddie's. His curiosity for learning led him to pursue night classes at Technical Career Institutes in New York City, where he earned his certificate in Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technology in 1987. This marked the start of a meaningful career in security and fire alarm systems, beginning at Tyco, where he later transferred to Raleigh, NC.

While in North Carolina, a pivotal moment in Earl's life occurred. Encouraged by his sister Sandra to join her at church, Earl embraced Christianity by being baptized, and became a devout follower of Christ. After a few years in North Carolina, he reunited with his family in Miramar, Florida, in the early 1990s.

In Florida, Earl's career flourished as he became a fire inspector for Simplex-Grinnell. He purchased his first home, which he shared with his sister and her son Travis, while continuing his education at Miami-Dade College, where he earned his Florida Fire Inspector certification in 2001. His professional accomplishments, however, were only a part of his life's journey.

Through his sister Sandra, Earl met Emilce Elizabeth Almonte, who would become his lifelong companion. After four years of friendship, Earl and Emilce began dating, quickly realizing they were meant for each other. The two were engaged within six months and married on March 6, 2004. That same year, Earl achieved his dream job as a Fire Inspector for Osceola County, and the couple moved to Kissimmee, FL, where they faithfully served at the Kissimmee church of Christ for 16 years.

In 2020, due to Earl's declining health, the couple relocated to Clermont, where they continued to worship at the Clermont church of Christ, while occasionally visiting the Sorrento Hills church.

Earl was many things to many people—a devoted Christian, a caring husband, a Batman enthusiast (he always said he was Batman), a lover of model cars, action-packed movies, music, and football, particularly his beloved Miami Hurricanes, Raiders, and Tarheels. He was a gentle soul with a witty sense of humor, able to connect with people effortlessly. Earl could speak to anyone about God, life, and everything in between in a way that felt comforting and sincere. Even as his health declined, he continued to offer a listening ear and a helping hand to those around him. Earl's warmth, humor, and generosity left a lasting impact on all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Earl's long and courageous battle with sickle cell anemia and congestive heart failure ended peacefully on October 21, 2024. He is predeceased by his father Keithley and sister Sandra, and survived by his devoted wife Emilce, his mother Millicent, and his brother Horace.

Though his absence is deeply felt, we take comfort in knowing that Earl is no longer in pain, and we have faith that he is now with the saints, awaiting his eternal reward in Heaven. He will be greatly missed but never forgotten.

In honor of Earl, please wear shades of blue to his service.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the ASH Foundation at https://donate.hematology.org/ or via mail to P.O. Box 37577, Baltimore, MD 21297-3577.