Esther Miner

Service for Esther Lee (Grimes) Miner, 92, of Cleburne will be conducted at 11:00 A.M., Monday, October 22, 2018, in the Crosier-Pearson Cleburne Chapel. The Reverend Christopher Weaver will officiate. Burial will follow in the Greenlawn Cemetery. Pallbearer will be Stephen Hafford, Michael Fuller, William Fuller, Emmett Jackson, Phil Grimes and John Stevenson. Visitation will be 3-5:00 P.M., Sunday at the funeral home.
Esther L (Grimes) Miner was the youngest child of George Washington Grimes and Ella Augusta Nichols. She was born in the family home on East Robbins Street in Cleburne, TX. Our mother loved life even as a child. She was adventuresome, unafraid and bold. She was curious and loved to dance. She enjoyed school. She attended grade school in Cleburne and Waco but is a proud graduate of Booker T. Washington High School.
As a young adult, she was no stranger to hard work, she picked and chopped cotton, did domestic work and raised the children of local families. She was an active member of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church and represented the YPWW at local and state conventions. She reaffiliated with Shiloh, along with her late husband, Hubert Miner, upon her return to Cleburne in 1992. She served on the Senior Usher Board and managed the Kitchen for many years.
She married Hubert Miner, Sr. in 1946, (who preceded her in death on January 12, 2006) and moved to California where they raised their 3 sons. She was a stay at home mom who occasionally worked outside the home until 1968 when she became a full-time employee at Stanford University hospital where she subsequently retired. Shortly thereafter, she and our father returned to Cleburne to live out the remainder of their days together.
Family was the most important thing to our mother. Our home was “grand central station” for both our parents’ families. Everybody loved “Cousin/Aunt” Esther. And we celebrated many family occasions together. Mom served as the inaugural President of the California, Texas & Minnesota Chapter of the Blackwell, Fortenberry and Nichols Grand Family Reunion Club. Only in recent years did she miss the annual gatherings of the BFN family in late July. Upon her return to Texas, she made it her business to regularly attend the Grimes Family Reunion in Edgewood, TX as well as hosting the annual Cousins’ Party in Cleburne at her home. She was happy to have attended a Grimes Reunion in Phoenix, AZ where she proudly proclaimed herself an Original Grimes”. The name stuck and the AZ family members began to call her “OG” for Original Grimes. Together, the two, Family Reunion groups honored both her father (Grimes) and mother (Nichols) ancestors.
Mom was civic minded and engaged. She was an active Den Mother with the Cub Scouts. She was a Neighborhood Block Captain and served on a Cleburne City Council Committee. She was an active and proud member of the Johnson County Democratic Women’s Club. She voted in every election – and expects everyone else to do the same.
Mom lived a long and full life. But she was ready and looking forward to her eternal life. She loved her family and we loved her. She was also preceded in death by her parents, all siblings and great grandson, Elijah. She leaves to remember and celebrate her life, her three sons, Hubert, Jr, James and Phillip. Grandchildren, Jalynn, Malaika, Hubert Emil, great granddaughter, Zoe, god-grandsons Arran, Troy and Jamal and a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins and their families.
Though our hearts are grieving at our loss, rest assured it is well with our souls!