Essie B. DeFrance

Essie B. DeFrance, 81, of Benton Harbor, passed away, Thursday, July 2, 2015 at Hanson Hospice Center in Stevensville. The family has arranged a public visitation from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Wednesday, July 8 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. A Memorial Service will be held 5:00 P.M. Thursday, July 9 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 281 Martin Luther King Dr., Benton Harbor.  Memorials may be made to the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, (jw.org). Those wishing to sign Essie’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Essie was born April 21, 1934 in Wyatt, Missouri to Willie & Annie (Shurn) Greer.  On December 17, 1955, she married Charles DeFrance in Benton Harbor. On March 15, 1985 she symbolized her dedication as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and was a member of the Benton Harbor Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Essie was employed as a Para-Professional with Benton Harbor Area Schools, retiring in 1993 after twenty-five years.  She devoted her life to the children of Benton Harbor as an educator. Essie enjoyed attending the Benton Harbor Tiger basketball games in Farnum Gym, and in her free time she enjoyed cooking and spending time with her family. Essie is survived by her children-Valerie DeFrance of Benton Harbor, Charles (Debra) DeFrance, Jr., of Nashville, TN, Kevin DeFrance  & Philip (Carolyn) DeFrance, both of Benton Harbor; ten grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; eleven great-great-grandchildren; four sisters-Ernestine Greyer of Detroit, Hosea Greer & Alice Brown, both of Toledo, OH, Deola of Illinois; and a host of nieces, nephews & cousins.  She was preceded in death by her husband Charles, Sr. in 1996, her daughter Vanessa DeFrance- Delaney in 2002, and by two brothers-Ernest Greer & Willie “Buddy” Greer.