Esther Lene Zachery

She gave her life to Christ in 1948 while attending Joshua Baptist Church. Esther sang in the Joshua church choir with her sisters, and they also traveled around Indianapolis singing with their Uncle Albert in the Albert Batts Choir, a family choir. After getting married she joined Trinity CME Church, where she remained a faithful member with her family.

Esther attended Indianapolis Public School John Hope #26 for elementary school and graduated in 1949 from Crispus Attucks High School. She sang in the Crispus Attucks High School choir. In 1952 she married Thomas L. Zachery Sr. There were five children born from this union, one boy and four girls.

Esther started her working career at Fort Benjamin Harrison, Finance Center. She worked there for several years. She then began working at L.S. Ayers and retired in November 1996 from United Hospital Services after 15 years of service, where she received awards for not missing any days. Although Esther was a quiet lady, when she spoke, people listened to what she had to say. She enjoyed reading and particularly liked romance novels. Esther was the epitome of class while also marching to the beat of her own drum.

After Esther retired, she moved to Chicago, Illinois from 1997 to 2006. She helped raise her grandchildren, Taylor and Lauren. During her time in Chicago, she also cared for other young children who were friends of her granddaughters, acting as an unofficial daycare. She kept them busy during the day with lots of activities and truly enjoyed every minute of it.

Esther was a wonderful mother, grandmother, great grandmother and aunt. She loved spending time with her family, especially her sisters with whom she played bingo and talked on the phone with for hours. There was nothing she wouldn’t do for her family, and she truly enjoyed her grandkids and great grandkids.

She leaves to cherish her memory, son, Thomas Lewis Zachery Jr.; daughters, Carla Jewel Zachery, Paula Jean Zachery, Carmela Merriwether and Rhonda (Kenneth) Walton; grandchildren, Steven Lamont Zachery, Taylor Marie Merriwether and Lauren Ann Merriwether; great-grandchildren, Zion Pat-rick Carpenter, Amaari Lamont Zachery, Amaya Lynette Zachery, Amonte Ali Zachery and Amandre Dickerson; and a host of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by parents Raymond and Madie Batts, brothers Elzy “Snookems” Batts, Raymond Batts Jr., Calvin Danus Batts, France Batts, Charles Chester Batts and Bruce Batts, sisters, Maxine Alexander, Eva May Sanders, Dorothy Redd, Shirley Jean McGuire and Mary Louise Johnson.

Esther will be truly missed and as she used to say when asked “how she was doing”, “kicking but not high, flapping but can't fly”. You can now fly high dear sweet mama!