Estella M Sutton

Estella was born in Eudora AR, the third child and eldest daughter of David Maiden and Annie Strawder. At a tender age of 18, she left Arkansas and moved to California. In California she tried a variety of jobs such as the US Postal Service, and in 1973 she was hired as the first African American Bus Operator for AC Transit of Oakland California where she worked until she retired in 2000.

Estella was an adventurous soul and made friends easily. After she retired she moved to Virginia for a change of pace. There she started a new career as a Hotel Hostess where she made friends of coworkers and guests alike. In 2005, she left Virginia and moved to Laveen, AZ where she lived until her passing.

She was an avid reader, loved to work on puzzles, and was spiritual. She received Christ at a young age and was a member of the Bloomy Shade Baptist Church of Eudora, AR, a member of the St John's Baptist Church of Richmond, CA, and finally a member of New Destiny Christian Church until her health prevented her from attending regularly.

Estella is preceded in death by her parents, the late Mr and Mrs David Maiden, her brothers, Oneal Maiden of Chicago, IL, David Maiden Jr, of Eudora, AR, and sister Doris Maiden of Richmond, CA. She is survived by her daughter Denise Wilson of Stockton, California, son Dennis Dillard of Phoenix, AZ, and grand-daughter Ericka Crayton of Las Vegas, NV.

At the time of this writing, final arrangments are in the processing of being made and are tentatively planned for April 9, 2026 and will be held at a location to be announced.

The family would like to thank all those who shared an outpouring of love. Perhaps you called; we thank you. Perhaps you sent a card; we thank you. Perhaps you sent a prayer; we thank you.