Essie Hamer

Essie (Bridges) Hamer was born on April 26, 1927, in Holcomb, MS to the late Mr. and Mrs. Julius and Lou Ellen (Ratliff) Bridges. She was the 2nd of 3 children, which include her brother Clifton, who resides in Salt Lake City, UT, and her brother Julius, Jr., who preceded her in death. She attended Grenada High School in Grenada, MS and graduated in 1948, after which she moved to Chicago, IL. Essie met her husband, Ladell Hamer, in Chicago and they married on February 5, 1950. Their marriage lasted 69 years. To this union 6 children were born. She was preceded in death by her husband Ladell and their 2 sons: Ladell, Jr. and Maurice. Her daughter-in-law Sandra Jean Hamer also preceded her in death. She worked as a wrapper at Curtis Candy Company, and at Dainty Maid Candy Company. She stopped working outside of the home in 1970 and became a full-time homemaker. Essie received Christ at an early age. In Chicago she served on the Mother Board and taught Sunday School for many years at New Revelation of Holiness M.B. Church in Chicago. It was there she met her play daughter Patricia Brewer. Essie also served on the Mother Board at Union M.B. Church in Robbins, IL. She loved to walk, sew, garden, complete word puzzles and participate in Bible studies. She leaves behind many close and loving friends. The LORD called his daughter Essie home on August 7, 2023, at the age of 96. Essie is survived by 4 daughters: Billie Jean Kelley (Fred) of Lynwood, IL; Bernadette Brownlee of Park Forest, IL; Evelyn Hamer of Alsip, IL; and Brenda Lee Hamer of Glenwood, IL. Essie’s eldest stepdaughter is Mary Ann Hill of Decatur, IL and her daughter-in-law is Linda Pollard of Gurnee, IL. She has 10 grandchildren: Cleveland Galloway III; Hassan Ladell Lee; Sherman Steven Booker III; Ladell Hamer III; Jarrel Lawrence Hamer; David Maurice Hamer; Leonard DeShaun Pollard; Francis Starlet Pollard; Willie Hill, Jr.; and Sheryl Houston. She leaves a host of great grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and greatnephews. “And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.” Luke 6: 46-48 (KJV)

Essie Hamer

April 26, 1927 - August 7, 2023