Essie Marie Hatcher

ESSIE MARIE JONES HATCHER was born a twin on June 8, 1927, to the late Mary C. and Frazier Jones, in Durham, North Carolina. Her twin bother Jessie preceded her in death at age three. She departed this life on September 28th, 2005, after a year-long illness. In 1947, she moved to Baltimore, where she met and married the love of her life Clyde W. Hatcher, Sr. From this union were born six children: Bruce (deceased), Brenda, Regg, Clyde, Jr., Kevin, and Robin. She attended the public schools of Durham, North Carolina and graduated with honors from Hillside High School. She also graduated from the Cortez Peters Business School and attended Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland. She began her walk with the Lord at an early age; and attended the Emanuel Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Durham, North Carolina. Upon moving to Baltimore, she became a member of Berea Temple Seventh-Day Adventist Church. In the late fifties she left Berea Temple with a pioneer group of believers to form the "Eastside (Sharon)" Seventh-Day Adventist Church. In 1970 she returned to Berea Temple church where she led the "Soup Kitchen", and the "Fruit Cooperative" initiatives. She also served as a "deaconess", member of "Women's Ministries", "Literature Evangelist", and Sanctuary Choir member. In 1998, along with her husband, she moved to Decatur, Alabama, where they joined the "Alpha" Seventh-Day Adventist Church; where she was a faithful member, until her passing. Because of her firm belief in Christian education, she provided the financial means for two of her grandchildren to attend private Christian schools. Both Corey (deceased) and Lashonda were graduated from the Baltimore Junior Academy and the Pine Forge Academy in Pine Forge, Pennsylvania. On Sabbath mornings she and her husband would go to the homes of their children to pick up their grandchildren; ensuring that they were present for Sabbath school at Berea Temple. Realizing that her children's early years were important, she put her career on hold, until they were all of school age. As president of the PTA, she was visible on a daily basis in her children's classes. In 1960 she began her career with Maryland State Department of Unemployment. Starting out as a clerk-typist, she worked her way up through the ranks, and retired as an employment specialist in 1987. In 1975, she was assigned to operate a satellite office in the Lafayette Community Center; where she was cited by the Governor's Office for finding hundreds of jobs for community residents. Essie was small in stature with the spirit and heart of a giant. Even in her final days she continued to advise and counsel her children. Her last request was that each of her children be saved in the Kingdom of God. She is survived by: a faithful and loving husband, Clyde William Hatcher Sr.; two daughters, Dr. Brenda Hatcher-Savoy and Robin Hatcher Thomas; three sons, Regg, Clyde, Jr. and Elder Kevin Hatcher; two daughters-in-law, Cheryl and Donetta; and one son-in-law, Dr. Wayne Thomas; one sister, Allene Blue; one sister-in-law, Geraldine Rollins; sixteen grandchildren, Bruce Jr., Lashonda, Kevin Jr., Regina, Bryant, Essie, Lisa, Ashea, Regg Jr., Eric, Justin, Sherrell, Christen, Kristen, Joseph and Erica; seventeen great-grandchildren; one uncle, Walter McClain; one aunt, Ola McClain; a host of cousins, other relatives and friends.

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Essie Marie Hatcher

June 8, 1927 - September 28, 2005