Essie Mae Stone

"When I've Gone the Last Mile of The Way'
Essie Mae Brown was born May 7, 1927, in Greensboro, Florida to the parents of the late Johnny and Mattie Lee (Jones) Brown. She grew up in Quincy, Florida where she received her primary and secondary education. At an early age, under the guidance of her parents, she accepted the Lord. The Brown family migrated to Beacon, New York. After a period of time, the family moved back to their native Florida, locating to Moore Haven.
On December 5, 1946, I Moore Haven, Essie Mae was blissfully married to Henry T. Stone of Stuart, Florida. The Stone family moved back to Beacon, New York and started their family. After the birth of their two oldest children, they relocated back to Florida and resided in Jupiter. They continued to add six more children, a total of eight, six boys and two girls.
After the birth of her last child, Essie Mae became a loving and devoted single parent to her eight children. Through the years she expressed how devastating and challenging this was. But she sought to hunger and thirst after righteousness, calling upon the name of the Lord. (Matthew 5:6, Romans 10:13). She nurtured and raised all of her children to adulthood. Her children arise up, and called her blessed; they praise and honor her for all that her hands have done. (Proverbs 31:28) To God Be The Glory!
In the 1960's she joined Mt. Carmel Missionary Baptist Church and sang in the choir. Years later in the 1970's she attended and became a member of Jupiter Church of God. She remained there until her health declined. She served in many capacities: Sunday School Superintendent and Teacher, Mission Board, Intercessory Prayer Warrior, Ladies Ministries and most honorably and matronly Church Mother.
Essie Mae was a well-known pioneer pillar in the West Jupiter community. She possessed a quiet and meek spirit and loved people, especially those of the Household of Faith. Her involvement with community children was always exemplary, especially the girls. She was the bootlegged hairdresser (press and candy curls), notably at Easter! Ear piercing was also one of her special techniques. Back in the day, on Saturday nights she would load all her kids, and many others as she could, in her hooped-up station wagon taking them to Riviera Beach Drive-In. During Thanksgiving and Christmas Holidays, she was known for baking and giving away her famous homemade chocolate chip, peanut butter and pecan raisin oatmeal cookies.
Preceding her in death are: Henry Stone Sr.; Two Sons: Kenny and Ricky Stone; Three Grandsons: Aaron Clay JR., Cedric and Malcolm Stone.
She is survived and forever cherished by: Four Sons: Henry and Donald Stone, West Palm Beach, Blayne (Charlayne) Stone, Jupiter, Bruce (April) Stone, Port St. Lucie; Daughter-in-law: Marva Stone, Jupiter; two loving, devoted and caretaking daughters: Brenda Clay, Boynton Beach, and Sandra Stone, Jupiter; Twenty Five Grandchildren; forty four Great Grandchildren; ten Great Great Grandchildren; two affectionate nieces: Patricia Tyler, Charlotte, NC and Sara Moore, Poughkeepsie, NY; two adorable God-Daughters: Anne Y. (Bishop John) Thorne, Pt. Salerno, and Annie R. Conway, Jupiter; A host of nieces and nephews, other relatives, family and friends, Church family and community at large.
Final Arrangements have been Entrusted to the care of Thorne's Mortuary Inc. Stuart, FL.