Esther Gravell Jarrell, 93

Esther Gravell Jarrell, 93, of Fredericksburg, died peacefully on Thursday, September 25, 2014, at the Florida South Hospital in Orlando, Florida, after a brief illness.

The daughter of William Henry Gravell and Susie Armstrong Gravell, she was born in New Castle, Delaware on December 2, 1920. She graduated from high school in New Castle, Delaware, and in 1938 she married her high school sweetheart, J. Earl Jarrell. Esther and Earl had two sons, James E. (“Jim”) Jarrell, Jr. and John William Jarrell. During Earl’s time in the navy, Esther joined him in his missionary service on behalf of the Baptist church. They first served together in the Panama Canal Zone, then in 1954 they were the founders of Bayside Baptist Church in Norfolk, Virginia. From 1955 until 1958 they served together at the Craigs Baptist Church in Spotsylvania County. They went on to found the Cavalry Baptist Church in Patrick Springs, Virginia and the Virginia Missionaries on Wheels chapter.

In 1968 Esther and Earl moved to West Point, Virginia and she worked for the social services department in King & Queen County. In 1972 they moved to Fredericksburg, Virginia and she worked in the Stafford County Social Services Department and served as its director for a number of years before her retirement in 1983. Locally, Esther and Earl were very involved in Zoan Baptist Church, Chancellor Baptist Church and Fredericksburg Baptist Church.

Esther truly enjoyed her hobbies. She and Earl loved to travel and to camp in their RV and she was very proud of her pilots license. She was well known for her landscape and still life paintings.

She had a deep love and devotion for her husband, family and friends, a tremendous sense of compassion for those in need, and was known for her generosity and kindness to all. She loved The Lord and was a great prayer warrior.

Survivors include her son John William Jarrell and his wife, Betty P. Jarrell of Orlando Florida, her three grandchildren, James E. (“Jay”) Jarrell, III of Fredericksburg, John Jarrell, Jr., Beth Jarrell Coppens both of Orlando, Florida, her close niece Gerry Brown of Fredericksburg, seven great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband J. Earl Jarrell and her son James E. (“Jim”) Jarrell, Jr.

The family will receive friends from 5:30 to 7:30 pm Thursday, October 2 at Covenant Funeral Service, Fredericksburg.

A funeral service will be held at 10:00am, Friday, October 3, 2014 at Covenant Funeral Service with the Rev. J. Larry Haun officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Memorials may be made to Fredericksburg Baptist Church, 1019 Princess Anne Street Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401.