Mrs. Essie M. Bryant of Winston-Salem, NC passed into eternal rest on Thursday, February 17, 2022 at her home after a lengthy period of illness. She was born on April 28, 1929 to the late Robert and Essie Wilks of Chester, SC.  She was raised in Chester, SC where she attended the Chester County Public School System and worshipped at St. Paul Baptist Church.

Essie relocated to New York in 1955 where she met and married Ulysses Bryant.  From this union, a daughter, Mamie Ruth Bryant was born.

Essie worked for many years in the ER Department of Queens General Hospital in Jamaica, NY until retirement.  After retirement she moved to Columbia, MD and lived there for several years before relocating with her oldest daughter, Naomi Gainey, to Winston-Salem, NC where she lived until her death.

She was preceded in death by seven brothers, Jack E. (Eloise) Wilks, William B. Wilks, Hugolden Wilks all formerly of Chester, SC, Robert (Nellie) Wilks, Alvin Wilks, and Philemon Wilks all formerly of Baltimore, MD, and Douglas McArthur (Mae Audrey) Wilks formerly of Winston-Salem, NC; sisters, Alice Wilks formerly of Chester, SC, Alverta Hatton, Eberlene Taylor, Lessie Lemon, and Margaret Kirkland all formerly of Winston-Salem, NC.

She leaves to celebrate her life two daughters, Naomi Gainey of Winston-Salem, NC and Mamie Ruth Bryant of Tucson, AZ; four grandchildren, Cassandra (Lincoln) Sandiford of Abu Dhabi, UAE, Christopher (Monique) Smith of Jacksonville, FL, Melanie Thomas and Renita Thomas of Tucson, AZ; six great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; brother, James S. Wilks of Winston-Salem, NC; sister, Annie Francis Bush of Columbia, SC; along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00am Saturday, February 26, 2022 at the Russell Funeral Home Chapel.  Due to Covid-19 protocols, masks will be required.