Mrs. Jean Essex

Funeral Services for Mrs. Roena “Jean” Essex, age 84, of Cookeville, will be Sunday, January 31, 2016, 2:00 p.m. at the Cookeville Free Will Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the Essex Family Cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday, January 30, 2016 from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Dyer Funeral Home and again Sunday afternoon from 1:00 p.m. until time of the service at the church. Mrs. Essex passed away Thursday morning, January 28, 2016 at her home, surrounded by her three children. Jean was born October 19, 1931 in Dekalb County TN to the late John Cantrell Spears and Lena Mae Lafever Spears. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother and her children praise her for her Godly spirit. Jean taught her Primary Sunday School Class at Cookeville Free Will Baptist Church for thirty-three years. She was very creative, enjoyed writing poetry and songs, and wrote each of her grandchildren a poem for their birthday every year. She worked at Acme Boot Company and was a homemaker. Jean is survived by her three children; Carol Randolph, and Cecil (wife Rhonda) Essex of Cookeville, and Cindy (husband Dale) Walker of Sparta as well as four grandchildren; William Logan Randolph, Parker Essex Randolph, Lauren Alyssa (husband Mark) Apple, and Andrew Keith Essex. Mrs. Essex is also survived by two sisters-in-law; Theresa Spears and Ina Essex, and a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends. In addition to her parents, Jean was preceded in death by her husband of fifty five years, Gilbert Keith Essex, a granddaughter Amy Michelle Essex, and seven brothers and sisters; Sam Spears, James Spears, Albert Spears, Betty Ann Lafever, Audrey Goff, Lena Spears and Rita Dyer. Pallbearers will be Mark Apple, Kevin Spears, Andrew Essex, Parker Randolph, Chris Clinton and Dale Walker. Bro. Charles Cook and Bro. Mark Apple will be officiating the services. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Samaritan Inn, P.O. Box 982, Sparta, Tn. 38583 for the support of orphans in India.