Esther Sykes Allen

Longtime Riverhead resident Esther Sykes Allen died April 17. She was 102. 

She was born Feb. 22, 1912, in Jackson, N.C., to Ben and Emma Sykes and married William Allen Feb. 20, 1930. The Allens moved to Riverhead in 1946.

Family members said that Ms. Allen was “an independent, intelligent, hard-working woman” who loved family, music, knitting and gardening. They spoke of her “beautiful spirit and contagious laughter” that will be missed by all who knew her.

Ms. Allen was a devoted member of First Baptist Church in Riverhead. Her family described her as a “God-fearing woman who loved the Lord.”

Predeceased by her husband and her children Mamie, Benjamin and Chester, she is survived by her son, William; her sisters, Marjorie Hargrove of Suitland, Md., and Lila Bates of Riverhead; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren and other relatives.

The family received visitors April 23 at First Baptist Church of Riverhead, where a funeral service officiated by Pastor Charles Coverdale took place. Interment was at Riverhead Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements were handle by Seay Memorial Chapel in Riverhead.