Essie Mae Bernice Garner Page

Essie Page, born Essie Mae Bernice Garner, entered into eternal rest on December 10, 2020. She is survived by her beloved husband of sixty-two years Dr. Thornell Kenly Page; two children Brenda Idell Page-Murphy and Thornell Kenly Page, II (Ken) and two grandchildren Matthew Everett Anthony Murphy and Jourdan Brianna Page. Her brother Willie Lee Garner predeceased her. She leaves behind a host of other extended family members and friends too numerous to name.

Essie was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina to parents Willie James Garner and Frances Ethel Idell Evans Garner (Idell). She attended Booker T. Washington High School in Rocky Mount and graduated from North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina with a degree in business administration. She earned her master’s degree in administration from Howard University in Washington, D.C. and earned credits toward a doctoral degree from Virginia Polytechnical Institute and State University.

Essie began her career with the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) system as a teacher at Alice Deal Junior High School. She served DCPS in other capacities as Career Counselor at Wilson High School and Special Assistant to the Superintendent of DCPS for Program Development and as Director of Exemplary Programs. Among other positions she held, she also worked for the U.S. Department of Education for Special Programs. She retired from her position as Director of the Office of Work Opportunity of the District of Columbia Department of Human Services. She was recognized as an expert in education and management and the recipient of numerous awards.

Essie was a founding member of both “AWARE,” a lobbying organization of Black women for political and economic change and Network Plus, a tightknit group of Black women whose membership included the late Effie Barry. She was also a member of “For Women Only,” an empowerment organization for women. In addition, she was very active in and held officer positions in public service organizations. She served on the national level as the National Meetings Chair and Historian for the Continental Societies, Incorporated and served on the local level as President and as Parliamentarian of the D.C. Chapter of the Continental societies, Incorporated. She was also a devoted member of the Capitol City (D.C.) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated and also Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the family will hold a memorial service at a later date to be determined. If you would like to be notified of and would like to attend the future service, please e-mail: essieg.pageservice@gmail.com.

In lieu of flowers, you can send donations in Essie’s name to the Continental Societies, Incorporated, D.C. Chapter Scholarship Fund at dccontinentals.com/donate or you can

make a donation to the Capital City (DC) Chapter of The Links Incorporated Scholarship Fund. To donate to the Capital City (DC) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated Scholarship Fund please send your donation to:

Capital City (DC) Chapter of The Links Incorporated Scholarship Fund

4200 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., #106-202

Washington, D.C. 20016-2143

If you were blessed enough to know Essie Mae Bernice Garner Page, you were blessed indeed with a treasured friendship because not only was she beautiful inside and out, she was such a special person to so many, extremely intelligent, bold and a powerful force on her own and for others.

The family would love and be comforted by your expressions of sympathy, care and cherished memories here on the website and please indicate how you knew Essie or her family. All of these precious memories will be printed in a keepsake book for the family.

The family thanks you for all of your love, kindness and support at this very difficult time of grieving.