Earnestine Vaden

Earnestine Jeffery Vaden was born on November 27, 1940, in Gilmer, Texas to the parentage of Richard and Charlie Mae Jeffery. She was a long-time resident of Crane, Texas where she grew up and accepted Christ under the Pastorage of her uncle, Reverend T. J. Hollins at an early age.

Earnestine attended and graduated from Bethune High School. She also attended Prairie View A & M College where she aspired to be a teacher.

She married Lorenzo Vaden in 1964. She later moved to California and on to Detroit, Michigan. While in Detroit, she was a member of the Patronage of St. Joseph Catholic Church. She worked diligently in her church as a member of the choir. She was on the Christian Service Board for the Catholic Churches as a community advocate in community development.

Earnestine traveled in many of the 50 states advocating for the betterment of the states. She loved camping, sewing, cooking, singing, evangeling, and overall her family which always came first in her life. When she baked her famous “syrup cake” she loved to see the reaction of people’s faces. Also while in living in Detroit, she was a lobbyist advocating with the Michigan Senate in promoting health care and getting HMO’s and cheaper insurance rates for the state of Michigan.

Earnestine moved back to Crane to help take care of her parents, her brother’s children and her grandchildren. She had the “Kool-aid house” in Crane as many children called it and often times called upon her “back scratcher” as her friend.

Earnestine was preceded in death by her parents, husband Lorenzo Vaden, four brothers, Donald, Curtis, Leon, and Glen. Also, her daughter, Heather Jeffery and daughter-in-law Barbara.

She is survived by her daughter, Natalie (Ronald) McCoy and son Sherrod Vaden. Two brothers, Jackie Jeffery, Sr. (Daisy) of Crane and Ronald Jeffery (Jackie) of Odessa. Also, seven sisters, Gala Milton of Detroit, Michigan, Virginia Jones of Ft. Worth, Lois Johnson (Johnny) of Odessa, Mary Doss of Lubbock, Beatrice Henry (George) of Tyler, Patricia Jeffery and Yolanda Jeffery of Lubbock. Also, daughter Hannah Jeffery of Ft. Worth, Harrold (Tanisha) of Odessa, Jeffery Chatman (Tay Tay) of San Antonio, and Sharda Biggers (Landon) of Detroit. Granddaughter Kalyn Taylor of Virginia Beach, Virginia; Grandsons Chevis Flanigan of Crane, Cameron Mooring of Lubbock; Granddaughters Charlie Bernard of Crane, Afranasia Taylor of Odessa. Also, Great-granddaughters Amaria Flanigan of Detroit, Teara Jeffery of Odessa. Grandson’s Curtis Jeffery, III, & Tyce; Granddaughter Wisdom Mae; Grandsons Jerrim and Jayden of Ft. Worth; Great Grandchildren, Jeffery Chatman, Jr., Julius and Jalee Chatman of San Antonio, Vonyea, Amaya and Amaje Mooring of Lubbock, Texas; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, relatives, friends as well as special friends.