Family and friends are invited to attend the funeral service of Ms. Estelle Warren on Saturday, June 4, 2022, at 11 AM at Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church, 813 Broad Street, Camden, SC. At Ms. Warren's request, everyone is asked to wear gray. She asked that no one wear black to her funeral ceremony.
Estelle Sylvester Warren, the matriarch of the Warren family, was born on April 21, 1928, as the second child of the late Rev. Grannison Warren, Sr. and the late Janie Evans Warren, in the St. Matthews section of Kershaw County, S.C. Most people who knew her call her Ms. Penny. She attended the Kershaw County public schools. Estelle was proud of her accomplished spelling and writing skills and her active participation in school activities. After completing her formal education, she worked in Camden for a few years before moving to Washington D. C., where she worked and resided for approximately fifteen years, most often working two jobs. As a result, she became very resilient, independent and self-sufficient in a big city environment. While residing in Washington, D.C. she joined 10th Street Baptist Church as a dedicated and faithful member. She enjoyed the lively and progressive religious services and the vibrant fellowship culture.
Upon returning to Camden she was employed for a few years prior to her retirement. Subsequent to her retirement she enjoyed spending time with family and friends, especially on her porch because she did not want to miss who was passing by her house. In addition, she was the primary care giver for her older brother James “Boy”. But her favorite past time was watching her favorite TV shows and drinking Mountain Dew sodas. Her return to Camden also gave rise to her becoming a member of Mt. Moriah Baptist Church. Prior to her long term illness, she was a faithful, dedicated and loyal worshiper at Mt. Moriah. Estelle thoroughly enjoyed the services, various activities and the fellow members with whom she established very close relationships. She was especially honored that she had a personal and close relationship with her pastor, Rev. Dr. P. W. Wise, whom she admired and respected as a man of God, and his impeccable high character and integrity.
Estelle enjoyed telling family stories and reminiscing about how good God has been to our family and that He has blessed us to come so far from so far back. She lived vicariously through the achievements and success of all of our family members, all the time not realizing and appreciating how proud we were of her in terms of all she had achieved and overcame against the odds as a single mother. However, she was also fortified in her enduring belief that God was always on her side.
During her last few months with us, Charles Council, Rochelle Warren-Council and Markeita Warren-Barber (nephew, niece and grandniece) enthusiastically took the lead in organizing her health care needs. They also brought along other family members and friends to make sure Estelle received first class care. Most notably, her care givers, Leola Dow, Robin Warren, Shantel Brown and Rosalind Hampton were spectacularly caring and loving. Regina Warren-Crim (niece) was always available to provide advice and guidance on health and medical care matters. There are too many to name here who have been there for Estelle in sickness and health and she is forever thankful, as is her family.
It was in the early morning hours of Saturday, May 28, 2022, that Estelle transitioned to join the angels in the sky and all of her ancestors. She enjoyed a long earthy life for almost 9 ½ decades, and she can now enjoy eternal peace and rest, not burdened by the bumps and bruises of daily life. Estelle is predeceased by her two children, Bryan and Sylvia. She is also predeceased by her loving siblings, Sara, Helen, James, William, Grannison, Jr., Robert, Henry and Elizabeth. She is survived by her son, Ralph Larry Warren, Esq. (Phebie); grandchildren, Ralph, Jr. (B.J.), Dionne, Kelsey and Ericka; a host of nieces and nephews, James “Rang” Jones (Cindy), Regina Warren-Crim (Jasper), Rochelle Warren-Council (Charles), Paula Warren-Radden (Troy), Thoyd Warren (Kim), Michael Warren, Grannison “GG” Wagstaff, James “Foots” Jackson, Tyrone Alexander, William Warren, Jr. Kenneth Warren, Albert Warren, Frank Warren (Kim), Robin Warren, Michelle Warren, Shavelia Warren, Narvelia Warren-Eley (Milton), Linda Sheppard, Steven Sheppard, Authrine Wilson, and Tony Payne; Sister-in-Law, Francene Warren, and first cousin, Carol McCrae. She is also survived by a host of grandnieces and grandnephews, and other close relatives and friends.