Ola Essex

OLIVE BRANCH, Ill. -- Ola Mae Essex, 84, of Olive Branch, died Monday, Dec. 22, 2003, at Daystar Care Center in Cairo, Ill.

She was born Sept. 12, 1919, in Canalou, Mo., the daughter of Lee Allen and Stella (Midcalf) Greer. She married Clarence Essex. He died in 1977.

She is survived by two daughters, Freida Sheible of Mounds, Ill., and JoAnn Sissom of Olive Branch; nine sons, Henry Rodgers of East Cape Girardeau, Ill.,, Lawrence Rodgers of Spring Hill, Fla., Dewey Rodgers of Kimmswick, Mo., Gary Rodgers, Arthur Rodgers and Louis Rodgers, all of Olive Branch, Mickey Rodgers of Scott City, Ronnie Rodgers of Old Town, Fla., Steve Essex of Olive Branch; one stepdaughter, Joyce Bearden of Avery, Texas; 45 grandchildren, 101 great grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.

She also was preceded in death by her parents, a son, a stepson, a stepdaughter, a grandchild, four great-grandchildren, five brothers and two sisters.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Crain Funeral Home in Tamms, Ill., and after 9 a.m. Wednesday at Alexander Freewill Baptist Church in Olive Branch.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the church with the Rev. Earnest Brown officiating. Burial will be at Green Lawn Memorial Gardens.

Crain Funeral Home of Tamms is in charge of arrangements.