Esther Oliver (Oliver) Bible
March 14, 1922 — July 11, 2015
Decatur ~ Esther Oliver Bible, 93, a homemaker, went to be with our Lord Saturday, July 11, 2015 in Decatur.
Funeral is 1:00 p.m. Saturday, July 18, 2015 at First Baptist Church of Decatur with burial at Oaklawn Cemetery. Family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. Friday at Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home.
Rev. B.J. Thomas and Rev. C.D. Lockhart will officiate. Pallbearers include Michael Moten II, Daren Gabriel Jr., Dustyn Bible, Dean Bible Jr., Desmon Bible, Brandon Case, De’Andre Kelley, and Rodamond Moten. Honorary pallbearers are Dalane Bible, Dean Bible, Kenneth Gabriel, Keith Gabriel, Joe Bible Jr., Anson Bible, Kenneth Bible, Billy Bible, Donnie Bible, Quenton Dawson, Henry Sims Jr., Lendrick Sims, J.C. Bible, Courtney Durhan, Chris Shepperd, Kerry Avant, Anthony Stephens II, Trevin Stephens, Jeremaine Stephens, and Jeremy Stephens.
Esther was born on March 14, 1922 to Benjamin Franklin and Anna Bell (Sinty) Oliver in Crawford, Texas. She was the last child and only girl of the late Benjamin and Anna Oliver. She attended elementary school in Crawford, Texas. Later in 1971, she studied and received her GED at Weatherford College. Esther was united in marriage to Charles Bible Sr. on October 30, 1937 in Meridian, Texas, they shared 70 years together. They had 6 children together and she was also a motherly influence to a loving step-son. At an early age she professed faith in Christ at Clifton Cumberland Presbyterian Church under the pastorage of Rev. D.A. Berkley. Esther served in the Missionary Department, choir, and any other duties as needed.
She was a member at St. John Baptist Church after relocating to Decatur under the pastorage of Rev. Eugene Florence. She continued her membership at St. John under the leadership of Rev. B.J. Thomas and Rev. C.D. Lockhart. She worked at Darwin Hospital as a cook and a caregiver to many. She was voted “Mother of St. John” in 2007. She was Mission President, choir member, and faithful servant until her health began to decline. Esther also maintained her active involvement in the Brazos River Presbyterian Church. She was a member of the Eastern Star and member of the Decatur Garden Club.
Mother Esther was preceded in death by her husband Charles A. Bible Sr. in 2008; her parents, Ben and Anna Oliver; her brothers and their spouses, Bennie and Josephine Oliver, Henry and Ruthie Oliver, Joseph and Faye Oliver, and Clodis and Willie Mae Oliver; her sons, Charles A. Bible Jr. and Jonathan “Joe” Bible; her grandsons, James “Jamie” Bible and Nolan Bible; her granddaughters, Latanya Sims, and Jo-Ann Bible Hall; 2 great granddaughters; 2 great grandsons.
Mother leaves a lifetime of memories and love to her daughters, Wilmer Jean McWilliams and husband Alfred of Locust Grove, Georgia, Bonnie Bible of Arlington, Martha Sue Bible of Decatur, and Anna Juno Bible of Houston; her son, Johnathan S. Bible and wife Betty of Mexia; her daughters-in-law, L. Jean Bible of Decatur and Barbara Bible of Waco; 38 grandchildren; 94 great grandchildren; 83 great great grandchildren; honorary family, Robert and Lorna Grant of Florida; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home, Decatur, Texas, 940-627-5959
www.hawkinsfuneralhome.com