Esther Akins

Esther Margaret Moore Akins entered the realms of glory on Thursday, November 19, 2020, at 10:45 a.m., following two years of declining health.

A private graveside service will be held for her at her home church and burial beside her husband of 73 years in the church cemetery.  Because of COVID no viewing will be held.  Rev. Gene Frady Sr. will officiate along with longtime friend Mr. David Threatt.

Esther was born on February 21, 1923, in a little community called Eastwood in Moore County, North Carolina, of Scottish and Welsh heritage.  Her parents were the late Pearl Wicker Moore and Neil A. Moore, Sr.  She was also preceded in death by her husband, Van James Akins, Jr.; four sisters, Glennie Alma Moore, Ethel Dow (Bill), Roseanna Cook (Roy), Daisy Benesch; one brother, Neil A. Moore, Jr.; and son-in-law Ed Miller.

Esther was valedictorian of her high school but chose to use her talents and intellect to help others and raise a family.  She loved to grow flowers and vegetables.  She was a master gardener but not on paper.  Everyone got cuttings and plants from her cold frame.  She was a professional seamstress, putting together wedding gowns and veils with ease.  Quilts were her specialty, too.  Cooking was her forte along with nursing the whole community with her folk medicines and herbs.  She loved her church, her God, and her family. Becoming a born again Christian at a young age, she was active in Christian activities her entire life, teaching Sunday school, singing in the choir, serving on committees, making communion bread, and gracing the sanctuary with her home grown flowers.

She is survived by her loving daughters, Gaye Frady (Gene) and Barbara Miller, both of Concord; three grandchildren, Sgt. Larry Frady II, USAF Retired (Wendy) of Bury St. Edmunds UK, Kimberly Gaye Van Der Meid (Darren) of Midland, and Jamie Miller (Kristen) of Concord; two step-grandchildren, Scott Frady (Dana) of Belmont, and Carl Frady (Shelley) of Gastonia; four great-grandchildren, Brittany Quick (Jarrett), of Charlotte, Joshua Miller, Nathaniel Miller, and Sarah Miller of Concord; sisters-in-law, Josephine Strauss of Berwick, PA and Shirley Akins of Visalia, CA; and a number of nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions in Esther’s memory be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Hartsell Funeral Home of Midland is serving the Akins family.

Online condolences may be made at www.hartsellfh.com