Essie Mae Pendleton

Mrs. Essie Mae Pendleton, 69, of Osceola, died of a stroke Saturday, July 16, 2011, at Methodist University Hospital in Memphis. Born June 27, 1942, in Bona Vista, she was a homemaker and a member of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, where she was an usher and a member of the Mother Board.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William Thomas and Estella Beecham; her husband, Robert "Snake" Pendleton; her sister Jean Thomas; her brothers, Charlie B. Thomas and Clarence White; and four-stepbrothers, Joe Henry Beecham, Thomas Jefferson Beecham Jr., Leroy Beecham and Melvin Beecham; and a step-daughter, Veronica Pendleton.

Mrs. Pendleton leaves three daughters, Lorrie Ann Pendleton, Mary A. (and Donnie) Cooper, and Crystal Pendleton, all of Osceola;

One step-daughter, Latasha Burns Haywood of Memphis;

One son, Kim Robert (and Lorie Ann) Pendleton of Osceola;

One step-son, Reggie Coker of Memphis;

Three sisters, Queen Anderson of Anchorage, Essie Windmon of Driver, and Nancy Yankaway of Blytheville;

Four step-sisters, Evelyn Harris of Cleveland, Georgia Mae Tyler of Maywood, Jessie Cole of Osceola, and Ruthie Welch of Osceola;

One brother, William Holiday of Chicago; and

Six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

The family will receive visitors from 5-7 p.m. Friday at Wilson Funeral Home in Osceola. Funeral services, officiated by Pastor Bryant Whitted, will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday at Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Wilson. Burial will follow at Macedonia Cemetery in Wilson.