Essie Marie Tate-Jackson

Those Who Loved Me When I am gone, release me and let me go. I have so many things to see and do, you must not tie yourself to me with tears, but be thankful for our beautiful years. I gave my love to you and know it was from the heart. You can only guess how much you gave to me in happiness. I thank you for the love you have shown, but now it’s time I traveled alone. So grieve a while for me, if grieve you must. Then let your grief be comforted by trust, It is only for a while that we must part, so bless the memories within your hearts. I won’t be far away, for life goes on, so if you need me, call and I will come. Though you can’t see or touch me, I’ll be near. And if you listen with your heart, you will hear all my love around you soft and clear, and then when you must come this way alone, I will greet you with a smile, and say “Welcome Home.”

As we retrace the footprints of Essie Marie Tate Jackson, we can only give thanks for the many lives she touched and enriched along her life’s journey.

Essie, began her journey of life on December 29, 1937, in Gum Springs, Arkansas. She was the eighth of fourteen children born to Mr. Jay Lee and Mrs. Elnora Anderson Tate. At an early age, she made a personal decision to accept Christ as her personal Lord and Savior at St. Ruth Baptist Church in Gum Springs, AR.
As a girl, Essie proved to be personable, full of life, and had an outgoing personality. Essie grew up to be a loving, fun-spirited, and intelligent young lady. She enjoyed having a good time hanging with family and friends while enjoying listening to the blues. Her friends and family will remember her as always having a keen sense of fashion. She loved beautiful jewelry, hats, purses, clothes, and shoes.

Essie later married the love of her life, Sammy Houston “Speedy” Jackson on April 5, 1960. “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward” (NKJV). The Lord blessed Essie with a healthy boy, Richard, whom she loved and nurtured immensely, taking her role as a mother as her most prized attribute. She worked hard and made many sacrifices to take care of her family. Her son was her pride and joy. She taught him to respect himself and to follow the golden rule --"Treat others as you would want to be treated.”

Essie was a dedicated employee of Levi Strauss until the company was relocated out of state. She later found her passion and began working with homebound and elderly patients with Clark County Health Unit in Arkadelphia – Home Health Agency and also doing private care. She possessed a nurturing and loving spirit that transcended her job title. She always went above and beyond her job and made her patients feel loved and cared for.

During all of her 85 seasons, Essie made friends regardless of race, gender, faith, or creed. She freely offered wise counsel, gave generously to those in need, and inspired everyone who crossed her path. Family, as well as friends, will miss her sense of humor, smile, and love, but will never forget Essie's spirit and compassion. She was welcomed to her eternal home by her parents Jay Lee and Elnora, her husband Samuel “Speedy”, six brothers, J.L. Tate, David Lee Tate, James Tate, Samuel Tate, Willie Lee Tate and Oliver Tate, and two sisters Mary Francis Mitchell and Ella Neal.

She leaves to celebrate and honor her life’s journey: her son Richard Brim of Gum Springs; two granddaughters that she loved and adored Kimberly (Dexter) Smith of Kansas City, KS and Tracee (Christopher) Ford of KS; four great grandchildren Mackenzie Noel Ford, Christopher Brayden Ford, Isaiah Grayson Ford and Kai Deyunn Smith; four sisters, Laura Tate of Gum Springs, Gertha Duncan of Mt. Pine,  Dorothy Butler of Dallas, TX and Elverna Tate of Los Angeles, California; one brother Donald (Debra) Tate of Los Angeles, California; one stepbrother, Meldine (Brenda) Ivory of Gum Springs; one stepsister, Carolyn Owens of North Little Rock; six sisters-in-law Annie M. Tate, Shirley P. Tate, Lorece Sue Muldrew, Joyce Harrington Jackson, Betty Box and JoAnne Smith; five brothers-in-law Percy (Sydney) Jackson, Dan Jackson, Alfonso Jackson, Jerry (Barbara) Jackson and Arthur Gatlin, and two very special friends Pearl Davis and Dorothy Lister a host of “special” nieces and nephews, relatives, friends, and the St. Ruth Missionary Baptist Church family.

Submitted by the Tate-Jackson Family

Visitation will be Friday, November 25, 2022, from 1;00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and the family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m.; until 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home. The homegoing service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 26, 2022, at St. Ruth Baptist Church with Rev. Jamal Brown, the eulogist. Interment will be at St. Clair Cemetery-Burtsell.

Pallbearers will be her great nephews Vickiel Vaughn, Demone Gillette, Jerry Harvell, Jordan Gillette, Jakolbhi Gillette, Glenn Hill Drew Hill, Samyon Hill, and Jeremy Roden. Honorary pallbearers will be Donald Tate, Meldine Ivory, Kai D. Smith, Dexter D. Smith, Christopher R. Ford, Christopher B. Ford, and Isaiah G. Ford. Her nieces and great-nieces will serve as floral escorts.