Esther Read

TAMMS, Ill. -- Esther C. (Sims) Read, 92, of Tamms passed away Sunday, May 16, 2010, at the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Joyce and Melvin Hazelwood in Fordyce, Ark.

Mrs. Read was born at Elco, Ill., daughter of the late John Albert Sims and Lucy Pearl (Sharp) Sims.

She was a 50-year member of the First Baptist Church in Tamms, a member of Royal Neighbors of America, a housewife and a homemaker.

Survivors include two sons, John Lee Seals of Dongola, Ill., and Robert McHarry of Tamms; three daughters, Shelby Young of North Carolina, Esther Trier of Fort Meyers, Fla., and Joyce (Melvin) Hazelwood of Fordyce, Ark.; two sisters, Cleta Poole of Mill Creek, Ill., and Erma Shelton of Jonesboro, Ill.; 27 grandchildren; a host of great-grandchildren; great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, Alfred Seals Sr., Robert McHarry and Ernest Read; three brothers, Bill, Gene and Fred Sims; three sisters, Effie Poole, Martha Baldwin and Virgie Rhymer; and a son, Alfred Seals Jr.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Jones Funeral Home in Tamms. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Tom Bridges officiating.

Burial will be in St. John's Cemetery in rural Dongola.