Essie Dais

DAIS, Essie
"May the work I've done speak for me"
Eternal peace came to our beloved Essie Mae Dais on Sunday morning, January 10, 2010. She was born on January 27, 1925 in Avon Park, Florida to the late Fannie Haynes Brown and Jolly Lee Brown. Essie Mae Dais spent her formative years in Elmira, New York. Essie and her late husband, Louis Dais, lived in New York for many years where she worked and went to Culinary School. Essie was an awesome cook and loved entertaining many guest at home after church for dinner. She was also known for her extraordinary talent for crafts and for years she gifted family and friends with beautiful ceramics. Essie relocated to her daughter and son-in law's home in Hampton, Virginia in 1990. She was a former member of Douglas Memorial AME Zion Church of Elmira, New York and frequently enjoyed attending St Paul Baptist Church of Elmira, New York. Essie Mae Dais was preceded in death by her husband, Louis Dais; brothers, Joe, Jolly Jr. and Willie Brown; and one sister, Mary Ellis. She leaves to cherish her loving daughter and son-in-law, Johnnie and John Smith; brother, Robert (Ernestine) Brown; grandchildren, Michael (Billie Jo) Brown and Ericka Brown; and a host of great and great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family. Family and friends are invited to visit Walter J. Kent Funeral Home, 858 Lake St. at Washington Ave., Elmira on Saturday, January 16th, from 10 to 11 a.m. Her funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Rev. Michael D. Bell will officiate. Committal prayers and interment will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery.