Estelle H. Sparks

ESTELLE HUDSON SPARKS Our mother, Estelle Graham Hudson Sparks, 84, of St. Petersburg, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Wednesday January 9, 2008, at Woodside Hospice House in Pinellas Park. She lost her life to lung cancer. She was born July 11, 1923 in Worcester, MA and came to St. Petersburg in 1935. She graduated from St. Petersburg High School in 1941. She was class secretary and received the Friendship Basket that same year. She married her high school sweetheart, Echillis Knight Sparks, EK, on January 16, 1942. She was a dedicated wife and mother of 5 children, a homemaker, a caregiver to her deaf mother, Winifred R. Hudson, and a legal secretary. She lost her only brother, Fredrick Orville Hudson in June 1980 and her mother 10 days later. She loved her family, took special pride in her grandchildren, enjoyed traveling, and trying new recipes. She attended Bay Point Christian Church and looked forward to meeting weekly with her prayer group. She also enjoyed having lunch once a month with 11 of her dearest girlfriends from high school, which were fondly referred to as the Lunch Bunch. She attended her 66th Class Reunion this past November at the St. Petersburg Country Club. She worked for the Honorable Paul H. Roney of the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals for 29 years as his Executive Secretary. She was considered a mother to the 70 plus young lawyers who clerked for the Judge over those years and in 1998, she retired at the age of 75. She remained closely connected to the Roney-Sparks Clerk Family till her death. Michael Elsberry, one of the first clerks said... I was one of the ones blessed to share first hand in the experience of the Chambers, when your mother and the Judge established their long relationship of mutual support and respect. Estelle had a great and long life, touching many people in a warm and positive way. She was preceded in death by her husband, Echillis Knight Sparks Jr., EK in 2001, and her two sons, James Fredrick Jimmy in 1964, and Robert Brian Bobby in 2006. Survivors include son, Echillis K. Sparks, III Skip, and wife Eugenia Traweek Sparks Gena, of Marietta, GA; son, Timothy Hudson Sparks and wife Laurie Schneider Sparks of Jacksonville, FL and her daughter Melissa A. Sparks of St. Petersburg, FL; and her five wonderful grandchildren, Echillis K. Sparks, IV, Kelsey of Marietta, GA, Matthew Brian Hudson Sparks, Hunter Austin Hudson Sparks, Kelly Marie Hudson Sparks of Jacksonville, FL; and Bianca Suzanne Sparks of Tampa, FL. Mom had one great grandson, Tyler James Sullivan of Tampa, FL. Friends and family are invited to join us as we celebrate the life of our mother who gave so much to so many, on Saturday, February 2, 2008 at 11:00 am at Bay Point Christian Church, 2001 62nd Avenue South, St. Petersburg, with Reverend Jay Cave presiding. Donations in her memory may be made to: Bay Point Christian Church, 2001 62nd Avenue South, St. Petersburg, FL 33712, 727-866-8814 or to The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, 5771 Roosevelt Blvd., Clearwater, FL 33760, 727-541-4199, Online Donations: www.thehospice.org Anderson-McQueen Funeral Home-Tyrone Chapel-727347-6636