Martha Eller Essick

Martha Eller Essick, 101, of Ridge Road, Lexington, passed away peacefully Tuesday morning, July 5, 2016, at Grayson Creek Assisted Living in Welcome after declining health and a short period of illness. A funeral service will be at Pilgrim Reformed Church at 11 a.m. Saturday with the Revs. Richard Moore and William Sowers officiating. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. prior to the service in the church parlor. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Martha was born on March 28, 1915, in Davidson County, to John Andrew and Bertha Mendenhall Eller. She was a homemaker and the oldest living member of Pilgrim Reformed Church. She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Elmer Essick on April 27, 2000; and by her daughter Jean Essick Stovall on July 9, 2005. She was also preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Jessie Hanes and Ruby Wagoner; three brothers, Kermit Eller, Frank Eller and Jack Eller and brother-in-law, Foil Essick. Surviving are her daughter, Henrietta Hayes (Bud) and son, John Wayne Essick (Pat) all of Lexington, three grandsons, Kelly Hayes (Ann) of Huntersville, NC; Kent Nifong (Heidi) of Lexington and Jonathan Essick (Nannette) of Dubai United Arab Emirates; great-grandchildren, Nathan Nifong of Lexington, Jacob, Noah and Abigail Essick of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Matthew Walton (Nicole) of Concord, NC; great-great-grandchildren are Liam and Isobel Walton of Concord, NC. Memorials may be made to Pilgrim Reformed Church, 797 Pilgrim Church Rd. Lexington, NC 27295 The family would like to express their sincere thanks and appreciation to the staff and employees of Grayson Creek Assisted Living for the care of their Mother over the last 1 ½ years and especially their kindness during the past week of her life.