Jean F. Estes

Jean Fielding Estes of Birmingham, Alabama passed away on Thursday, December 5, 2019. Jean was born in Goodsprings, Alabama on June 30, 1928 to her parents Floyd and Lessie Elizabeth Fielding. She graduated as Valedictorian from Cordova High School in 1945. Jean set her desire on becoming a nurse and was accepted into the nursing program at the young age of 17. She began training at Jefferson Hillman Hospital in Birmingham where she met her husband, James Howard Estes. She and Howard married on August 25, 1950. She loved being a nurse and kept her nursing license active until she was 90. She and Howard relocated to Illinois for Howard’s employer. Jean was pregnant at that time and gave birth to her daughter, Paula (Estes) Mask on March 23, 1954. They lived in Georgia, Tennessee, and Florida before moving back to Birmingham. Jean gave birth to her son, Joe Estes, Dec 31, 1956. They moved around several times in Birmingham before making “1507” their final home. She and Howard became dedicated Jehovah’s Witnesses in 1956 and made many life-long friends through their congregation. Jean was a loving wife, mother, and friend. She prided herself in hard work and worked at State Farm for 37 years as their company nurse. She and Howard were able to travel in their later years and enjoyed many trips around the world. She would describe her life in one word: “happy.” Jean was preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 63 years James Howard Estes, and by her siblings Shirley, Noel “Sparky”, Steve, Thomas “Spud”, and Joyce. She is survived by son Joe Estes, daughter Paula Mask, sister Melba Hunter, and grandchildren Jake Estes, Tyler Estes, and Danielle McDavid. A visitation for Jean will be held Monday, Dec 9, 2019 from 10:00 -11:00 am at Johns-Ridout's Mortuary-Elmwood Chapel, 800 Dennison Ave SW, Birmingham, AL 35211. Funeral service will follow at 11:00 am. Burial at Walker Memory Gardens in Jasper.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.johnsridoutselmwoodchapel.com for the Estes family.