Essie Lee Jackson

Essie Lee Jackson was born on July 21, 1915 in Ennis, Texas. She was the third child of 12 children born to Charlie Holiday and Ester Bazy Holiday. Her family moved from Texas to Kansas City, Kansas and finally settled in Richardsville, Oklahoma. After completing her education she moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma where she met and married the late G.W. (Frost) Jackson. They made their home in the Richardsville community where they lived and began a family. It was in this area that she worked, nurtured her family, worshipped and served in the church while supporting her community. She was a member of the Masonic Lodge Pride Chapter 125 and the Gardenia Art Federated Colored Women’s Club.Essie accepted Christ as her personal Savior and was a devoted Christian throughout her life. She first became a member of Mt. Olive Star Baptist Church, but made the Morning Star Baptist Church her permanent church home. There she served faithfully as a kitchen attendant and an usher “Keeper of God’s Door”.She will be remembered for her kind spirit, easy going manner, being faithful to God, loving her family and her unparalleled passion for cooking. One of her greatest joys in life was cooking and preparing meals for all who blessed her home. She has touched the heart of many and will truly be missed by those who knew her.On June 22, 2008 at 6:45 p.m. the Lord dispatched his angels of Mercy and summoned her spirit home with these words of comfort, “well done thou good and faithful servant.”She leaves to cherish her memory three daughters, Helen Grizzard and Jessie Mae Jackson both of Checotah, Oklahoma; Hester Ann Johnson (Worthie) of Tulsa, Oklahoma; one son, Charles Jackson (Lottie) of Tulsa, Oklahoma; her sisters, Charlie Mae Braxton of Kansas City, Kansas and Gladys Holiday of Kansas City, Missouri; 19 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and a host of relatives and good friends.Going home services for Essie will be on Saturday, June 28th, 2008 11:00 a.m. at Morning Star Baptist Church, Checotah, with Rev. Prince Maxwell Jr., officiating. Her final resting place will be in Warrior Community Cemetery. Visitation hours will be today from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Services are under the direction of Ragsdale Funeral Center.