Services for Esther Hadskey Nettles, 84, who died May 20, 2023, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, May 25, 2023, at Franklin Funeral Home in Meadville with Reverend Jamie Whittington officiating.  The visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service.  The burial will follow at the Nettles Family Cemetery in Eddiceton.

Esther was born on Easter Sunday, April 9, 1939, in Delhi, LA.  She was a 1957 graduate of Fayette High School.  She enjoyed being a schoolteacher for over 30 years at Thomas Jefferson, Trinity Episcopal, and Franklin County Elementary.  It gave her great joy to cross paths and reminisce with former students.  She was a dedicated member of Oldenburg Presbyterian Church, the Franklin County Women's Club and was instrumental in the care and upkeep of the South McNair Cemetery.  Esther attended Copiah-Lincoln Community College and was a University of Southern Mississippi graduate.  The Hadskey family comes from a long line of great story tellers, and she enjoyed passing tales on to her loved ones. Esther was known for speaking her mind, spreading laughter and the honest truth on a regular basis.

Esther was deeply devoted to her family. One of her greatest joys was spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren, who lovingly called her Mimi.  She loved taking them to her family home in McNair to fish, name cattle in the pasture, pick up pecans, and sit on the front porch enjoying the breeze.  Esther enjoyed watching Jeopardy, and everyone knew better than to interrupt the daily program.  She was also a fiercely competitive board game player and the most fun Rummikub opponent around.  Esther loved her family and friends unconditionally and was sincerely interested in every detail of their lives.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years Ronald Edward Nettles, Sr.; her parents, Henry Cameron Hadskey and Mary Lehmann Hadskey; her sister, Wyolene Rainer; her three brothers William Hadskey, Robert Hadskey and Glynn Hadskey.

She is survived by two sons: Ronnie (Rosie) Nettles, of Brandon, MS; and Jerry (Christy) Nettles of Germantown, TN; one daughter: Lane (Jamie) Whittington of Eddiceton; grandchildren: Jordan (Alex) Rueff, Brandon (Bailey) Nettles and their daughter Violet; Noel (Austin) Sinclair and their children Samantha, Carter and Cullen; Colleen Parker and her daughters Gracelynn and Nevaeh; Henry and Blake Nettles;  Devan (Brandon) Kent and their children Braceigh, Brooks, and Ellis.  She is also survived by one sister, Elizabeth High of Durham, NC, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Brandon Nettles, Henry Nettles, Blake Nettles, Alex Rueff, Austin Sinclair, and David Hadskey.  Honorary pallbearers will be Carl Sanders and Wayne Wiley.