Sunnyside community activist Efrem Jernigan passes away after battle with cancer

HOUSTON – A leader in the Sunnyside community and advocate of the Sunnyside Solar Farm, Efrem Jernigan, passed away on January 21 after a years-long battle with cancer. He was 62.

PREVIOUS: Largest urban solar farm in the U.S. ready to break ground in Sunnyside

Jernigan was president of the South Union Community Development Corporation. He also spent much of his recent time advocating for the construction of the largest urban solar farm in the country on a former city dump in Sunnyside.

As part of his role with the South Union Community Development Corporation, Jernigan taught the community how to build and maintain solar panels.

This program is a lifeline to help people in a historically underserved community find good-paying jobs and education.

“We’ve trained over 94 people how to build a solar ground mount,” said Jernigan told KPRC 2′s Gage Goulding in an April 2024 interview. “I’m a believer in freedom. We should all be free to get an education. That means if you learn a certain trait that we’re teaching, you’ll economically have your sunshine.”

SEE ALSO: A look at Houston’s hottest neighborhoods

It’s that sunshine that Jernigan worked to spread to all in the community.

“Saddened to hear of the passing of Efrem Jernigan, a tireless advocate for South Union and Sunnyside,” said Harris County Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis in a post on X. “My thoughts are with his family, friends, and the communities he served.”

Just a week before his passing, Jernigan interviewed with KPRC 2 for an update on the Sunnyside Solar Farm.

Memorial services for Jernigan will be held at the Bellfort Church of Christ at 11 a.m. on February 1, 2025.