Ethel M. Palmer was born on December 10, 1929, in Hopewell, VA to the late Lee Jasper Williams and the late Polly W. Levister-Williams. Ethel peacefully departed this life at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, NJ on August 21, 2022.
Ethel, as a youngster, attended the Red Bank public school systems until she graduated. To further her education, she attended a college in Newark, NJ to become a Spanish stenographer.
At the age of thirteen, Ethel was baptized, became a member of the Pilgrim Baptist Church, Red Bank, NJ; joined Sunday school and the choir. As an adult, she then joined the evening choir, became a Sunday school teacher; the church clerk; the church historian; a deaconess and prepared and hosted, in her home, first Sunday dinners for all the deacons, after they had served communion to all our homebound church members.
Ethel’s hobbies and fun things to do were cooking, baking rolls and cakes, canning, sewing, knitting, crocheting, playing scrabble, crossword puzzles, selling Avon, shopping, speaking Spanish and enjoying a good, heart-healthy laugh. She loved people and was always ready to lend a helping hand. She also loved to travel!
Ethel was a U.S. Postal worker for over 30 years and retired in the year 2000. In 1986 she married Arthur G. Palmer, a retired military veteran and U.S. postal worker.
Ethel was predeceased by her parents Lee Jasper and Polly Williams; her husband Arthur Palmer; her youngest child Lee Jasper Rogers, Esquire; her step-granddaughter Samora Palmer; her four brothers Thomas, Horner, McCormick and Otis Williams and her dearest cousin Geneva McClendon.
Those left to cherish her memories are her two daughters Sara Rogers and Aleta Pickett; her son Peter Rogers, Jr. (Norma); her stepsons Rodney Palmer (Candance) and Tony Palmer; six grandchildren; eight step-grandchildren; fourteen great-grandchildren; six great-great grandchildren; two sisters Almenta Williams and Edith Roach-Battle; sister-in-law Rita Williams; a dear friend Edna Reed and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
