Obituary of Esther D. Oakes

Esther D. Oakes, 88, of 34 W. 14th Street, died Friday September 29, 2023, in The Ellicott Center, Buffalo. She was born July 21, 1935, in Pittsylvania County, VA, a daughter of the late Reuben and Rosa Earqhard Graves. She was a longtime active member of Emmanuel Temple Church, Jamestown. Surviving is a sister Margaret Dixon of Lawrenceville, NJ; a host of nieces and nephews including Barbara Doyle of Marion, VA and Robin Cook of Lynchburg, VA and special friends in Jamestown Daisy Davis, Burnetta Leeper, Norma Coleman, Gloria Murphy, Carrie and Kat Wofford, Rev. Raymond and First Lady McCoy, Pastor Uvie and First Lady Brenda Stewart, Bro, Percy and his wife, Brad Johnson, and Deacon and Deaconess Keith and Sue Blake. She was preceded in death by her husband James Oakes in 2017; a son Mark Graves; three brothers Rueben, Jr., Percy and James Graves and a sister Mary Lucille Craft. The funeral will be held at noon Monday, October 9, 2023, in Emmanuel Temple Church, where friends will be received for one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Sunset Hill Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Emmanuel Temple Church, 1015 N Main St, Jamestown, NY 14701. You may leave words of condolence at www.lindfuneralhome.com.