Essie Geddings Osteen

AIKEN, SC – ESSIE GEDDINGS OSTEEN, 76, beloved wife of John William Osteen, Jr., died Thursday, September 24, 2009 at Aiken Regional Medical Centers. A native of Sumter County, SC, Mrs. Osteen was a daughter of the late Maggie Viola “Ola” and Ollie Vernon Geddings. She had lived in Aiken for 51 years where she operated a custom drapery shop and was a homemaker. She was a member of Millbrook Baptist Church where she served as a Sunday School teacher for 45 years, 15 of which she taught the Osteen Sunday School Class. She formerly served as Youth Director and Sunday School Director. Survivors, in addition to her beloved husband John, include four sons; John William (Frances) Osteen III, David Vernon (Audrey) Osteen, Ronald Stephen (Connie) Osteen and Richard Eugene (Kay) Osteen, all of Aiken, ten grandchildren; John William Osteen IV, Stephanie Nicole Osteen, Rebecca Diane Osteen, Karyn Elizabeth Osteen, Thomas Michael Osteen, Matthew Vernon Osteen, Kathryn Rose Osteen, Gene Redd, Eddie Redd and Janet Redd, two great-grandchildren; Owen James Osteen and Jeremiah Tufts and three sisters; Wilma Barkley, Alleen Geddings and Christina Geddings, all of Sumter. She was preceded in death by her sister Martha G. Shaw and three brothers; Levy Geddings, Horace Geddings and Oscar Geddings. Funeral services will be held Sunday at 4:00 PM at Millbrook Baptist Church with The Rev.’s Dr. Eddie Leopard and Dr. Christopher Masters officiating. Interment will follow in Aiken Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be Levy Geddings, Michael Geddings, Matthew Osteen, Randy Johnson, Ronnie Nissan and Joe Ed Avin. Honorary Pallbearers will be Ladies of the Osteen Sunday School Class. Memorial contributions may be directed to Millbrook Baptist Church Building Fund, 176 East Pine Log Rd., Aiken, SC or the American Diabetes Association, 2711 Middleburg Dr., Suite 205, Columbia, SC 29204. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 PM Saturday at Shellhouse – Rivers Funeral Home, 715 East Pine Log Rd., Aiken, SC. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Essie Geddings Osteen, please visit our flower store.