Essie Mae Respress

Essie M. Respress while residing at her second home in North Carolina completed her Earthly journey here on August 21, 2014.

Funeral services will be 11am Wednesday, August 27, 2014 at Patterson St. Freewill Baptist Church in Dothan with Pastor Harold McKissic, Sr. officiating. Burial will follow in Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery with Robert Byrd directing.

She was born in Houston County, Alabama to late James and Judith Edwardson June 14, 1921. Later in life she was united with Tommy Respress, Sr. and to this union ten children were born. Essie's husband, Tommy, and four of their children, Jean, James, Tommy, Jr., and Charlie, were gently swept away by heavenly hosts.

She leaves to mourn two daughters, Dorothy Whitehurst of Dothan AL, Hilmon Respress of Apex NC; four sons Hunter Gladys Respress of New York, Clarence Edna Respress of Dothan, Solomon Inella Respress of Dothan AL, Alfred Respress of Columbia AL; two sisters, Eula Miles of Ohio, Gency Mclord of New York; eighteen grandchildren, twenty two great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.