Essie Mae Tong, 88, of Jena, passed from this life on Saturday, April 20, 2019. She was born September 21, 1930 in Verbena, Alabama to the union of her parents, William Earnest Adams and Leone Adams. Mrs. Tong was a stay-at-home mother who loved her family deeply. Services were held at 1 p.m., Tuesday, April 23, from the chapel of Hixson Brothers Funeral Home in Jena with the Revs. Mickey Hudnall, Jimmy Keene and Jesse Henderson officiating. Interment followed in the Harris Chapel Cemetery near Olla under direction of Hixson Brothers, Inc. of Jena. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Shelton “Red” Tong; sisters, Louise Adams, and Rose Lee Newburg; sons, James Tong, Carl Tong, and Randy Tong; and granddaughter, Tricia Marie Derouen. Those left to cherish in her memory include her daughters, Shelby Derouen of New Iberia, Ina Thacker of Summerville, and Patsy McDonald of Texarkana, AR; and sisters, Earnestine Hilyer of Clanton, AL., Betty Fulgium of Fort Worth, TX, Voncile Enfinger of Pasadena, TX, and Leone Patterson of Clanton, AL. Mrs. Tong also had 16 grandchildren, 27 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandchild. Pallbearers were Jesse Derouen, Joshua Derouen, Blake Dotson, Devan Thacker, Parker Tong, Noah Parker, and Garrett Dotson. Honorary pallbearers were Harry Derouen, Freddie Thacker, Jeff Derouen, Timothy Derouen, Evan Thacker, Shane Tong, Lynn Tong, Ace Ockman, River Tong, and Cullen Derouen.
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