Esther Kirkpatrick

On Thursday, August 29, 2002, Dr. Esther Williams Kirkpatrick departed this life at 2:30 in the afternoon at her home with her loving husband Paul at her side. She was born on September 27, 1944 in Camilla, Georgia to the late Owen and Sylvester Jackson Williams; the youngest of seven children. Esther was a very sick baby, and her mother, Sylvester, carried her on her back to provide constant care for her as she worked daily in the cotton fields of Georgia. After her mother’s death, Esther moved to Baltimore to live with her sister and to complete her education. She graduated from Eastern High School in Baltimore, Maryland, and went on to complete her Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees at Coppin State College. In later years she went on to complete a doctorate degree. She was formerly married to Harold Williams. From that union one child, Vincent, was born. Esther loved Vincent very much and made many sacrifices so that he could have the best in life. Nothing was too good for her “ Dubba”. On July 5, 1985 Esther married, Paul Kirkpatrick, Sr. Together, they embarked on a very successful entrepreneurial journey that lasted over 17 years, and took them around the world. At the time of her death, they were Triple Diamond Pearl Executives and members of the Advisory Board of Morinda, Inc., the company that markets Tahitian Noni Juice. Esther was a motivational speaker and loved to communicate. She was the founder of the Success Training Institute, and through this venture gave renewed meaning to her favorite word: SUCCESS! She conducted workshops in grant-writing and mentored young female entrepreneurs through her institute. Esther was a long-time member and Deaconess at the Living Word Christian Center in Baltimore, Maryland, and was currently a member of the World Changers Ministries in College Park, Georgia. She authored 4 books, 1 on Carrots and healthy living, and 3 on grant writing. She was honored as one of Baltimore’s Top 100 Women, and was one of the top 25 female leaders in A. L. Williams/Primerica. Esther was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and was initiated through the Zeta Epsilon Chapter, in 1970. She loved her sorority very much, and served it in many leadership capacities over the years. She was a co-founder of the Maryland Council of Deltas, and a charter member of the Baltimore Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter. Esther had hoped to attend the sorority's’ 46th National Convention, recently held in Atlanta, Georgia, but her illness prevented her from doing so. She leaves to cherish her memory her loving husband Paul; one devoted son, Vincent Williams and his wife Candace; a stepson, Paul Jr. and his wife Yvonne; a stepdaughter, Cynthia Pearson and her husband Terrance; two brothers, Charles and Theodore Williams; one sister, Eva Jordan; two nephews, two nieces, and ten grandchildren. Esther was also cherished by a long-time family friend, James Moore, and by her “pride and joy”, Abrielle, her granddaughter. She will always be remembered by a host of other relatives, friends, business associates, her Delta Sorors, and her brothers and sisters-in-Christ.

Tributes

Esther Kirkpatrick

September 27, 1944 - August 29, 2002