ESTELLE GLADYS JACKSON EVANS

On Wednesday, February 28, 2018, Ms. Estelle Gladys Jackson Evans, peacefully departed this life at Doctors Community Hospital, Lanham, Md. Estelle was born August 10, 1930, to the late Langston and Eva Thweatt Jackson in Prince George County.

She confessed Christ as her Savior at an early age and was baptized at Union Branch Baptist Church in Prince George. Later, her parents moved the family to Petersburg, Va., where she continued to worship and serve the Lord at First Baptist Church on Harrison Street. Estelle was a devoted and dedicated servant as a former member of the Usher Board and Kitchen Committee. She was active as a member of the Ambassadors Club and the Maude E. Taylor Memorial Club (Mets). Estelle was honored for her faithful witness and worship as an active member of First Baptist Church.

Estelle was educated in the public schools of Petersburg and graduated from Peabody High School in 1948. During her high school years, she played as a guard on the Peabody girl's Lionettes basketball team and was a part of the winning championship game in 1946. Estelle's love of basketball far exceeded her high school years, as she was an avid watcher of professional games on television and, also, traveled to some WNBA and NBA games. She also finished her senior year as Homecoming Queen, Miss Peabody Class of 1948. After graduation, she was employed as a Peabody High School Cafeteria cashier where she took joy in feeding the athletes and fellow students.

Later, Estelle was employed at S.S. Kresge/Jupiter's. At the time, integration had not taken place and she was not allowed to work on the storeroom floor or at the register. When the stores were integrated, she became the first African American cashier. The company's name changed from S.S. Kresge to Kmart in 1977, and she retired from the Kmart Corporation with 30 years of service. Her retirement allowed her to participate more freely in her hobbies that included traveling, arts and crafts and bowling. Estelle was active in the community where she served as the Block Captain for the neighborhood watch and a volunteer at the nursing homes. She was also very active in the Senior Parks and Leisure group located at the Tabernacle Baptist Church Community Life Center. There, she engaged with her peers and enjoyed various activities and fellowship.

Estelle is survived by her devoted and loving sister, Lottie Brown of Ettrick, Va. Left to cherish her memories are her daughters, Patricia Brown Bates of Petersburg, Va., and Chandra Evans-Mitchell (Kenneth Mitchell) of Bowie, Md.; grandchildren, Gina Daniels (Andrew Daniels) and Roderick Bates of Garner, NC, Kanitha Mitchell, Marcus Datcher and Kenneth Mitchell of Bowie, Md.; two great-grandchildren, Davon Daniels of Paterson, NJ, and Allen Willis IV of Garner, NC; a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many dear friends.

Service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 9, 2018, at First Baptist Church, 236 Harrison Street, Petersburg, Va. Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Tillman, Pastor. Interment to follow at Dinwiddie Memorial Park.

A wake will be held from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 8, 2018, at the funeral establishment.

J.M. Wilkerson Funeral Establishment, Inc., 102 South Avenue, Petersburg, Va., (804) 732-8911, www.jmwilkersonsince1874.com.