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Deaconess Clara Ester Dies
The United Methodist Women vice president, civil rights advocate, and church leader died July 9, 2026.
United Women in Faith deeply mourns the loss of Deaconess Clara Ester, a longtime leader in our organization, serving as vice president of our board of directors and as executive director of the national mission institution Dumas-Wesley Community Center in Mobile, Alabama, among her many turns as mentor, nurturer, friend, advocate, and truth-teller. May we honor Clara by carrying on her legacy.
Please join us in prayers of comfort for her loved ones and in prayers of thanksgiving for her life and faith.
Services will be held in Mobile, Alabama and Memphis, Tennessee.
Mobile, AL Service
Toulminville-Warren Street UMC
2271 St. Stephens Road
Mobile, AL 36617
Visitation: Thursday, July 16, 3-6 p.m.
At B.E. Brown & Co. Mortuary
Visitation: Friday, July 17, 9-11 a.m.
Funeral Service begins 11 a.m.
Repast immediately following at
Dauphin Way UMC
1507 Dauphin Street
Mobile, AL 36604
Memphis Service
Monday, July 20
Centenary UMC
584 E. McLemore Ave.
Memphis, TN 38106
Visitation: 10:00 – 11:55 a.m.
Service 12 noon
Burial immediately following at Elmwood Cemetery, Memphis, TN
Read more about Clara from the Alabama-West Florida Conference.
