Sadie Elmore Wilson
1912 -2014
The LORD is my light
and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
the Lord is the strength
of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalms 27:1
and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
the Lord is the strength
of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalms 27:1
Sadie Elmore Wilson was born February 22, 1912 in Patterson, Louisiana. Her parents were Nellie Ratliff and Elihu Handy Elmore. She was baptized in 1925 at the age of 13 years by Reverend R.H. Leonard at St. Luke Baptist Church. She moved to New Orleans at age 25. Her best friend, Maggie Donahue Nabauns, (also born and raised in Patterson), was living in New Orleans then and introduced her to Ernest John Wilson, Jr. Sadie and Ernest married on September 20, 1944.
Seven children came from that union: Beverly Maria (married Mack Hines); Ernest III (Nick or Brother) (married to Darlene); Deborah Nell (La-La) who passed away February 27, 2000; Cynthia Ida (married to Ronald Gardner); Karen Amanda; Eric Handy; and Sadie Lynette (Dote). Sadie has been a member of Law Street Baptist Church in New Orleans for over 60 years. All of her children were baptized there. A woman of immense faith and compassion, she diligently served the Lord and His church as a Deaconess and Sunday School Teacher for many years. She resigned her post as Sunday School Teacher in 1995 at age 83. During her retirement years, much of her time was spent participating in and planning church activities and events, and visiting with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in Georgia, New Orleans, and California. One of her fondest memories was her trip to Nassau, Bahamas in 1994.
Beverly, Nick, Karen, Eric and Dote and their families now reside in Georgia in the Atlanta area. Only Cynthia and husband live in New Orleans area. Sadie's husband, Ernest, died on September 20, 1989. Sadie's grandchildren are Beverly's three sons: Steve who lives in Fairburn, GA and has one daughter, Kayla; Roderick married to Carina, one son Jhai, and they live in Fairburn, GA; Ajene (AJ) who lives in southern California, has one daughter, Solana. Nick's three are Reshone, who is married to Steve Sorrell, they have three kids, and live in New Orleans; Don who is married to Yolanda and lives in Baton Rouge with their two kids, Lauriel and Hayden; and Blake who lives in New Orleans has three kids, Jasmine, Blake, Jr. and Jordan. Jasmine has a daughter named Chastity. Karen's three are Oginga, who lives in Atlanta; Hakim and wife Tam and three kids live in Atlanta; and Abeni who lives in Seattle, WA. Cynthia and Ronald's son, Jason, live in Baton Rouge. Dote's son Corey is married to Kay, and they and their daughter, Naima, live in Baton Rouge.
Aunt Sadie epitomized the true meaning of mother, grandmother, godmother, sister, aunt, friend, teacher, and what it means to be a servant of God. She raised her family in faith, in love, and in reverence to God. Sadie is beloved by all of her family members, near and far. Sadie was still active in her church as a Deaconess and former Sunday School teacher when Hurricane Katrina (August 28, 2005)devastated New Orleans and forced her and Dote's relocation to the Atlanta area where they came into the loving embrace of their Georgia family and the St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church family. At 100 years old, she still faithfully attend Bible Study each Wednesday at 11 am. She still remembered all the verses of all the hymns and bible verses! She knew who she was and Whose she was.
She celebrated her 100th birthday on February 22, 2012 at a dinner party held at Christian City in Union City, GA on February 25th. Relatives from New Orleans, Baton Rouge, California, Illinois, Lafayette, Morgan City, Patterson, and Texas were in attendance to share this blessed and momentous celebration with her. What a grand reunion! A seed for The Elmore Ratliff Family Reunion 2013 was planted that night. Aunt Sadie's family was her pride and joy. Her love for the Lord and her desire to serve Him has been the pinnacle of her Christian life. She transitioned this life to Jesus on April 24, 2014 at the remarkable age of 102.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Seven children came from that union: Beverly Maria (married Mack Hines); Ernest III (Nick or Brother) (married to Darlene); Deborah Nell (La-La) who passed away February 27, 2000; Cynthia Ida (married to Ronald Gardner); Karen Amanda; Eric Handy; and Sadie Lynette (Dote). Sadie has been a member of Law Street Baptist Church in New Orleans for over 60 years. All of her children were baptized there. A woman of immense faith and compassion, she diligently served the Lord and His church as a Deaconess and Sunday School Teacher for many years. She resigned her post as Sunday School Teacher in 1995 at age 83. During her retirement years, much of her time was spent participating in and planning church activities and events, and visiting with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in Georgia, New Orleans, and California. One of her fondest memories was her trip to Nassau, Bahamas in 1994.
Beverly, Nick, Karen, Eric and Dote and their families now reside in Georgia in the Atlanta area. Only Cynthia and husband live in New Orleans area. Sadie's husband, Ernest, died on September 20, 1989. Sadie's grandchildren are Beverly's three sons: Steve who lives in Fairburn, GA and has one daughter, Kayla; Roderick married to Carina, one son Jhai, and they live in Fairburn, GA; Ajene (AJ) who lives in southern California, has one daughter, Solana. Nick's three are Reshone, who is married to Steve Sorrell, they have three kids, and live in New Orleans; Don who is married to Yolanda and lives in Baton Rouge with their two kids, Lauriel and Hayden; and Blake who lives in New Orleans has three kids, Jasmine, Blake, Jr. and Jordan. Jasmine has a daughter named Chastity. Karen's three are Oginga, who lives in Atlanta; Hakim and wife Tam and three kids live in Atlanta; and Abeni who lives in Seattle, WA. Cynthia and Ronald's son, Jason, live in Baton Rouge. Dote's son Corey is married to Kay, and they and their daughter, Naima, live in Baton Rouge.
Aunt Sadie epitomized the true meaning of mother, grandmother, godmother, sister, aunt, friend, teacher, and what it means to be a servant of God. She raised her family in faith, in love, and in reverence to God. Sadie is beloved by all of her family members, near and far. Sadie was still active in her church as a Deaconess and former Sunday School teacher when Hurricane Katrina (August 28, 2005)devastated New Orleans and forced her and Dote's relocation to the Atlanta area where they came into the loving embrace of their Georgia family and the St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church family. At 100 years old, she still faithfully attend Bible Study each Wednesday at 11 am. She still remembered all the verses of all the hymns and bible verses! She knew who she was and Whose she was.
She celebrated her 100th birthday on February 22, 2012 at a dinner party held at Christian City in Union City, GA on February 25th. Relatives from New Orleans, Baton Rouge, California, Illinois, Lafayette, Morgan City, Patterson, and Texas were in attendance to share this blessed and momentous celebration with her. What a grand reunion! A seed for The Elmore Ratliff Family Reunion 2013 was planted that night. Aunt Sadie's family was her pride and joy. Her love for the Lord and her desire to serve Him has been the pinnacle of her Christian life. She transitioned this life to Jesus on April 24, 2014 at the remarkable age of 102.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
"I won't complain, God's been good to me." Sadie Elmore Wilson
Memories

Beverly's Memories... "When I was about 11 or 12 years old and we were all returning home by bus from an event, there was a drunken man who'd fallen off his seat and other bus passengers were running away from him. Mama gave the baby to me to hold while she went to help the man up from the floor and into his seat. All the while she helped this man, she talked to him very lovingly. Her example did more to shape my life than her words because she lives her words."
"Another memory of Mama is her telling me as kid that 99 and a half percent won't do. It was her way encouraging me to do my best at all times. That advice worked too. My mom's gumbo and eggnog can't be beat!"
Prince Wren, Nephew - Sadie took care of me when I was a baby so that my mother could work. Sadie was 18 years old when I was born. And when I was a young man and a student at Southern University, I would spend the summers in New Orleans with her and her husband Ernest "Cap." I would have odd jobs in the summer, while I stayed in New Orleans, and would return back to Baton Rouge in the Fall. That was some of the best times of my life when I spent the summers at Sadie's. Her home was always open to me."
Andrea Wren - I wrote this poem a few years ago. It was published in The Forerunner our church's newsletter. I would like to dedicate it to my Aunt Sadie, who to me, is a true woman of God. It is titled Woman of God.
"Another memory of Mama is her telling me as kid that 99 and a half percent won't do. It was her way encouraging me to do my best at all times. That advice worked too. My mom's gumbo and eggnog can't be beat!"
Prince Wren, Nephew - Sadie took care of me when I was a baby so that my mother could work. Sadie was 18 years old when I was born. And when I was a young man and a student at Southern University, I would spend the summers in New Orleans with her and her husband Ernest "Cap." I would have odd jobs in the summer, while I stayed in New Orleans, and would return back to Baton Rouge in the Fall. That was some of the best times of my life when I spent the summers at Sadie's. Her home was always open to me."
Andrea Wren - I wrote this poem a few years ago. It was published in The Forerunner our church's newsletter. I would like to dedicate it to my Aunt Sadie, who to me, is a true woman of God. It is titled Woman of God.
Woman of God you are the daughter of Sarah;
a soldier on the battlefield of life.
Hand-picked by God you leave evidence of His light.
Salvation is the crown you wear
Your feet are shod in Faith
The Word of God is in your heart
His Spirit abides at your gate.
A meek and quiet soul you can be
at other times steadfast in the face of wrong.
Caring and compassionate towards others,
good and gentle, yet strong.
You bring a message of hope
to those who are lost
in the mire of sin; I was once lost too,
but with Jesus you can win.
Your worship and praise speaks boldly
You sing of the one in whom your heart rest
You proclaim Jesus is Sovereign
And for this, Woman of God
You are loved, exalted, and blessed.
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a soldier on the battlefield of life.
Hand-picked by God you leave evidence of His light.
Salvation is the crown you wear
Your feet are shod in Faith
The Word of God is in your heart
His Spirit abides at your gate.
A meek and quiet soul you can be
at other times steadfast in the face of wrong.
Caring and compassionate towards others,
good and gentle, yet strong.
You bring a message of hope
to those who are lost
in the mire of sin; I was once lost too,
but with Jesus you can win.
Your worship and praise speaks boldly
You sing of the one in whom your heart rest
You proclaim Jesus is Sovereign
And for this, Woman of God
You are loved, exalted, and blessed.
**********************************