Estelle M. Perry

Mrs. Estelle M. Perry was born on May 23, 1923, to the late Clinton and Lillie Mills in Wake Forest, N.C. Estelle gave her life to Christ at an early age and was baptized at Mount Sinai Holiness Church in Franklin, Va. She later became a faithful member of Fourth Baptist Church in Portsmouth, Va., where she sang in the choir and served on several other ministries until her illness forced her into Bon Scours Retirement Facility where Estelle lived for the past 9½ years until the early morning on Friday, Aug. 22, 2008, when the Lord called her from labor to rest.

Estelle was an excellent seamstress and loved decorating. She was kind to all and always willing to help someone in need. Estelle did domestic work for many years and was a dynamic homemaker.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Lee Perry; brothers, William, Forest and Elijah Mills; sister, Susie Futrell; and son-in-law, Edward Vaughan.

She leaves to cherish her memory, one daughter, Essiebell Vaughan; four grandsons, Kenny (Valerie), Ronnie, Keith (Wanda) and Steve Anthony (Bethune); two granddaughters, Brenda Vaquez and Juanita Scott; 12 great-grandchildren; one brother, Alexander Mills; three sisters, Betty Britt (Linberg), Hattie Carter and Nellie Boone; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Estelle will be sorely missed. We all loved her but God loved her best.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008, at New Mount Zion Baptist Church, Franklin, Va.; the Rev. Stephan D. Adams, pastor, officiating. Interment to follow at Southview Cemetery, Franklin, Va.

Honorary and active pallbearers are asked to assemble at 12:30 p.m. at the church.

The family will assemble 10:45 a.m. the day of the services and receive friends at 3906 Jamestown Drive, Hopewell.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to the staff of the J.M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment Inc., 102 South Avenue, Petersburg, Va, (804) 732-8911, www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com.