Derother Neal Esters
Derother Neal Esters, age 94, of Lafayette, Georgia, passed away Thursday, May 28, 2020 in Lafayette.
Derother was born Nov. 30, 1925 in Gore, Ga. to Dolphus (Ed) Neal, Sr. and Jessie Lee Burse Neal. She was a member of Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church of Lafayette. She was a faithful member of the Mt. Zion’s Missionary Club, Mt. Zion’s Gray Care Group, and served on the Usher Board for several years at Mt. Zion until she had to retire. She was educated in the Walker County School System. She was employed by E. T. Barwick Industries; the State of Georgia; and domestic for the family of Billy Shaw and Ann Abney.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Dolphus (Ed) Neal, Sr. and Jessie Lee Burse Neal; husband, Henry L. Esters; daughter, Virginia Ruff; two sisters, Minister Mabel Lundy and Arlene Neal; and four brothers; Dolphus (Bro), Jr., Daniel, Bobby, and Willie Neal.
She is survived by her daughter, Gladys Neal Wright of Lafayette, Ga.; three grandsons, Anthony Robzell (Cindy) Wright of Cohutta, Ga.; Ramont (Empris) Wright of Lawrenceville, Ga.; and Torrance DuShane (Diana) Wright, Sr. of Chattanooga, Tn.; nine greatgrandchildren, Aaisha Wright of Lafayette, Ga.; Tyler (Kayla) Arnold of Adairsville, Ga.; Zakery Wright of Katy, Tx.; Torrance DuShane (TJ) Wright, Jr. and Joshua Barnes of Houston, Tx.; Morgan Wright of Cohutta, Ga.; Jacob and Jordan Wright of Chattanooga, Tn., Madison Wright of Lawrenceville, Ga.; one great-great-grandson, Aaron Brown of Lafayette, Ga.; sister, Betty Jean Wooten of Lafayette, Ga.; one special niece, Billie Neal Gist of Rosenberg, Tx.; two special nephews, Cedric Lamar Neal of Chattanooga, Tn. and Milton LaDale (Beth) Neal of Lafayette, Ga.; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.
The Homegoing Service will be held on Sunday, May 31, at 1 p.m. at LaFayette Memorial Garden, 3658 N Highway 27, LaFayette, GA 30728, with Pastor Rheubin Taylor, eulogist.
Arrangements are by Willis Funeral Home, Inc., Dalton, Ga.