Esterlene Stallworth

Life is like a book: As one grows older, more pages are added and new chapters begin to com- plete the book. Esterlene lived a very long life and there are many chapters in her book.
The first chapter began in Atmore, Alabama on August 30, 1919. Esterlene was born to Robert and Alberta Sinquefield. She was the 4th of six children. She had three brothers, Alvin (Bill), Floyd and Frank; and two sisters, Geneva (Eva) and Mercedes (Dee). She attended Escambia County High School in Atmore, Alabama and graduated in 1938.
A new chapter began in 1938 when she moved to Middletown, Ohio following her older sister, Geneva. It was not long after moving to Middletown that Esterlene met and married Warren Stallworth. Four children were born to this union: James Robert (Bobby), Gwendolyn Ann (Gwennie), Vee Esther and Alfred Louis. In 1946, her sister, Geneva became ill and passed away leaving her only child, Richard (Amos) Ross behind. Amos was adopted by the Stallworth family and became brother to the other children. Esterlene and Warren also adopted Gwennie’s two children, Daphne and Eugene Dudley.
Turning the pages, her life was enriched with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchild- ren. Her children were her life and she loved each and every one of them with all her heart. She also loved gardening, cooking and baking. During the summer months, almost every day she would cook big meals consisting of fresh home grown vegetables from her garden. Holidays were grand — everyone enjoyed eating her seafood gumbo, lemon pie and 7-up pound cake.
Esterlene joined Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in the 1940’s. She had strong faith in God and attended church on a regular basis. She read her Bible every night and she prayed daily. She instilled the love of God into her children. She modeled the lessons and teachings of the Bible as an excellent wife, mother and friend. She was so kind and giving.
The last chapter ended on January 12, 2015 when she left this world to be with The Heavenly Father. She was preceded in death by her husband (Warren), her parents, all of her siblings and three of her children, Amos Richard, Bobby and Gwennie. She leaves to cherish her memory: four children, Vee (Bobby) Coleman, Alfred Stallworth, Daphne (Michael) Stallworth-Mayberry and Eugene Dudley (Roseann) Stallworth; 12 grand- children and 11 great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, Ethel Lucas (childhood friend of Atmore, AL) and many other loving friends. Her legacy will live on and will always be cherished by her children and grandchildren. Her smile and that laugh will always be remembered by all who knew and loved her.
The family would like to extend a special “Thank You” to Marie Davis, Elaine Watson, Patricia Hill, Vicky Gray and Mary Elizabeth Morrissey; you were all very special to Momma. The family will be forever grateful to all of you for the joy you brought to our Mother’s life.