Mrs. Esther Brett Oliphant passed peacefully on Thursday morning, March 4, 2021 in Reidsville, North Carolina.  Graveside services will be conducted from Greenview Cemetery in Reidsville, North Carolina on Friday, March 12, 2021 at 12 noon.  Public viewing will be held at Zion Baptist Church, 708 Piedmont Street, Reidsville, North Carolina on Thursday, March 11, 2021 from 2:00 until 6:00 p.m.  The family has requested that donations be made to "Zion Baptist Church - in memory of Mother Esther B. Oliphant" in lieu of flowers.

Esther Mae Brett Oliphant was born on November 27, 1915 in Winton, North Carolina to Arthur and Julia Brett.  Early on Thursday morning, March 4, 2021, she passed peacefully from her earthly life into eternal life, surrounded by her loving family.

Esther is one of seven children, (six girls and one boy) who grew up on a farm and was educated in the public schools of Hertford County.  She joined Pleasant Plains Baptist Church at an early age and graduated from C. S. Brown High School in Winton.

Leaving Winton to attend Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, she majored in Biology.  After graduating from Shaw in 1937, she returned to Winton to teach at C.S. Brown High School.  She taught Biology and Chemistry and mentored hundreds of students during her time there.

In the early 1940's, she met the love of her life, "Dan Jr." and they were married in 1944.  Several years later, she moved to Reidsville, NC, where she continued her career in the field of education as the Librarian at Booker T. Washington High School.  She did further study at North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC and North Carolina A & T State University in Greensboro, NC earning a certificate in Library Science.  She remained in the Librarian position at BTWHS and Reidsville Middle School until she retired in 1977, after 32 years of service for the state of North Carolina.  As the Librarian, she touched hundreds of students, if not thousands.  Many still tell stories about how they were "put out of the library" or how she would walk through the room and just put her hand on your shoulder as a warning to stop talking.

She became a member of Zion Baptist Church soon after moving to Reidsville, where she became very active teaching Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Bible Study (under two pastors), and Mission Group Ruth.  She continued to be a positive influence in the lives of many in and around Reidsville and is loved and admired by all. Though she had retired from her active work at her church, she still commanded a large presence as "Mother" of the church.  "Granny, as she is affectionately called by all, recently celebrated her 105 ^th birthday with a large drive-by parade, lots of flowers, gifts and over 200 birthday cards.

In addition to her parents, Esther was predeceased by:  her husband, Daniel Oliphant, Jr.; sisters: Glennis Jones, Ruth Quarles, Martha Jones, and Bernice Colson; brother, John Woodrow Brett; daughter-in-law, Sheryl Denise Oliphant; and grandson, Val Jean Jackson.

Those left to cherish precious memories include:  four children, Daniel Oliphant, III, of Beaumont, TX, Peggy Oliphant, of the home, Cynthia Lee (James), of Reidsville, NC, and Rita Wilson (Frank), of Eden, NC; two grandchildren she raised as her own, Nikki Roberts and Jabarda Jones, both of Reidsville, NC; 7 grandchildren, Lance Oliphant, Daniel Wilson, Whitney Wilson, Jennifer Jackson, Lisa Spencer, Frankie Cathcart, and William Lee; 22 great grandchildren; 3 great-great grandchildren; one living sibling, her baby sister, Carolyn Goins, of Henrico, VA; nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and a plethora of church family and dear friends.

McLaurin Funeral Home is serving the family. Covid-19 precautions will be followed with social distancing, masks and sanitizing required.  You may connect to the Virtual services via teleconference call by dialing (701) 802-5263 and then access code 6545855# or FaceBook livestreaming via McLaurin Funeral Home's FB page.