Estelle D. Hendrick

Estelle was born in Aliceville, Alabama on December 25, 1933. She was raised in Mississippi by her loving parents, Bernice and Lorenzo Dunlap. She had a sister, Mildred Edwards, and brother, Lee Dunlap.

As a child, her parents instilled in her the value of hard work. Nothing was ever just given to her; she had to work hard for what she had, but it never bothered her. She lived on a farm and was always helping to tend things. She started picking cotton at a very young age, and never complained. She always did what needed to be done, and she did it with a smile on her face.

Estelle was a telephone operator and met Loyd Hendrick when she was 20 years old. He tried to make a phone call one day and ended up talking to her for a while, and they got to know each other through the phone. They took an instant liking to each other. When they finally met, Estelle had her breath taken away by the handsome, charming, young man, and she just couldn’t stop thinking about him. Before they knew it, they were married, and have been for 61 years.

Estelle touched many lives. She was loved by everyone who knew her. She taught Sunday School for years, to both old and young. She deeply loved those she taught, and was loved by them. She was always writing sweet and encouraging cards to people that could cheer up anyone’s day. She was a warm, loving, outgoing, compassionate, and hilarious woman who always kept people on their toes. If you were around Estelle, it wouldn’t be long before she would have you laughing. She was clever and witty, and a joy to be around, no matter what.

Estelle was a mother to two boys: Loyd Jr. and Mark. She loved those boys more than anything. She was a wonderful mother who supported them through everything from ball games to school activities, bible quizzing, and everything in between. She never missed a single important moment in her kids’ lives.

Only the best mothers are promoted to grandmothers, and there was no one better than Estelle. She was the best grandmother to all of her grandchildren and they all loved her dearly. She invested time in each of them. She would play games with them and always did fun things with each of her grandkids. All of her grandkids adored her and always looked forward to seeing their “Nannaw.”

Estelle is survived by her husband, Loyd Hendrick; her brother, Lee Dunlap; her sons, Loyd Hendrick Jr. and wife Sheri, and Mark Hendrick and wife Shari, and all of her grandkids: Brandi and Rob Dane, Trey and Jessica Hendrick, Blake and Jennifer Hendrick, Mark and Leddy Hendrick, Kristi Hendrick, Samantha and Matthew Pearson, Tad and Brittany Toler, and great-grandkids: Troy, Cole, Lawson, Cody, Landon, Treyson, Harlee, J.J., Lacie, Landon and Jackson.

She was preceded in death by her father, Bernice Dunlap; her mother, Lorenzo Dunlap and her sister, Mildred Edwards.

The Hendrick family has been blessed beyond measure to be able to have such an extraordinary godly lady as an important role model in each of their lives. There never was, and never will be, anyone like Estelle.

Visitation will be held from 6:00-8:00 PM, Tuesday, November 10, 2015 at Tyler Memorial Funeral Home, 12053 State Highway 64 West, Tyler. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, November 11, 2015; also at the funeral home, with Pastor Brian Nutt officiating. Interment will follow at Tyler Memorial Cemetery.