Essie Mae Winckler, age 92 years, of Union Township, Hunterdon County, NJ, died peacefully on Monday, April 13, 2020 at Country Arch Care Center.

Born in Wilson, NC, June 23, 1927, Essie grew up in Baskerville, VA where she and her family where sharecroppers. It was a hard life, but her younger years taught Essie the value of hard work and eduction.

At the age of fourteen, Essie met a young Lewis Thomas Winckler and their young love would be everlasting. Married on November 29, 1944, the two decided to move to New Jersey in 1959 for a better life for their growing family. Settling in East Orange, in 1977 they moved to West Orange, NJ, and in later years Essie moved to Milford, NJ to be closer to family.

A true matriarch, Essie was a very proud mother to her five children. She and Lewis worked hard to ensure that each of their children had the ability to grow and be the best versions of themselves possible. Many would say she sacrificed everything for her family, but to Essie, it was not sacrifice but rather doing God’s work by being kind and generous to all and teaching her children to be that way as well.

Faith and family were the things Essie lived for. Her second home was Messiah Baptist Church in East Orange, NJ, where she served as a Deaconess as well as served on several committees and participated in many events of the church. Her faith and spirituality knew no bounds.

Simply put, Essie was a “class act” who showed through action the meaning of a “mother’s unconditional love.” Surely her loving spirt received a crown the day her eyes closed on Earth and opened into that placed promised to all the faithful. We hear in 2 Timothy 4:8, “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day–and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” Essie, we will miss you but are happy knowing you are wearing that crown with pride, and will continue to inspire us to be better, kind, and more loving in all that we do.

Her beloved husband Lewis, died in 2006 after sixty-two years of marriage.

Surviving are her children, Mildred and Cornelius Haynes, Thomas and Barbara Ann Winckler, Warren and Sherry Winckler, LaVerne and Leon Williams, and Karen Doston-Winckler and Tanya Doston-Winckler; her grandchildren, Dana Lovelace, Kristal Mason, Thomas Winckler Jr., Bryan Winckler, and Shaheer Williams; five great grandchildren, Isaiah Black, Xavier Black, Dakotah Lovelace, Elise Mason, and Grace Mason; her siblings, Claude and Pearlie Anne Williams and Lena Horne Barnes and Antonello Barnes; a host of extended family members; and many dear friends.

***Due to the inability to have a public ceremony at this time, and knowing how vital the love of family, friends, and the community is when someone passes, everyone reading this is encouraged to leave a detailed note on this page—perhaps a favorite story, or maybe the way Essie touched your heart—something to help inspire a measure of comfort and hope to all who read the comments.***

A public service is being planned at later date under the care and direction of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Flemington, NJ. Please check back on this page for updated service information; again, the information will not be available until the restrictions are lifted.

Private family visitation and prayers, followed by interment at Graceland Memorial Park, Kenilworth, NJ, took place under the care and direction of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.

Please visit Essie’s permanent memorial site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a memorial candle, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of her life.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Messiah Baptist Church, 13 Oak Street, East Orange, NJ 07018 or online by clicking HERE.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”