Ethel George

HER STORY .Ethel Louise Jenkins was born on April 17, 1924 to Charles and Rosalie Jenkins in Florence, South Carolina, she was the first born of six children. At a very young age the family moved to Camden, New Jersey. Ethel was a sickly child all through school, her asthmatic condition made her miss more than her share of classes, and she fought hard and never gave up. One year late, she graduated from Camden High School. While in school, at the age of 16, Ethel started doing women’s’ hair to make herself extra money; she loved it. On March 11, 1944, she married her first love, Harold Elwood Pierce. From this union, she brought forth three children, Carlton, Verna (Khalilah) and Marvin. Ethel was a stay at home mom, a dedicated mother and a homemaker. Carlton, her eldest, caught Polio at age 3, so the family moved to Denver, Colorado for better medical care. While taking him to Children’s Hospital, she was told that Carlton would never be able to sit or walk by himself. Knowing God, the way that she did, she said to herself, “My child is going to sit up and walk”. Religiously she would work with Carlton taking him back and forth to the hospital and positioning him up in his baby coach a little higher until finally he could sit straight up and with no help. The polio settled in his left leg and he wore a brace to keep him up right. Carlton could now walk! Praise the Lord! Not having to work, she sewed and crocheted whenever she had the time. She became an excellent seamstress. Now, she made all of Khalilah’s dresses and crocheted dollies and tams (flat hats) for women, which she sold for her savings and family vacations. As her children became older she went on to teach sewing at Manual High School, Night Classes. Later she attended Emily Griffith Vocational School and obtained her cosmetology license. Ethel started to work as a beautician in various shops in Denver. Lady Nelson’s, and House of Venus were her long-time stays. After years and years of working on hair she decided to challenge herself by doing something different. She went to Dental Assistance School while her children were in Jr. High School. Upon graduating, after looking for a job in her new field, she decided that her love of doing hair was what she really wanted to do. So, she continued doing hair until she was 80 + years working in “Carrie’s” shop until her health said, “No More”. Ethel’s walk with God began when she was born. She came from a praying family! As a child, she attended Bethel A.M.E. Church in Camden, New Jersey. She loved the Lord and was baptized on March 28, 1937. When the family moved to Denver they attended Union Baptist Church. In 1954, the family joined Scotts United Methodist Church where served on many church auxiliaries until her health prevented her from attending. Ethel remained a faithful member until her homegoing. Many of her grands; great- grands had memories of her walking or watching them go to Stedman Elementary School and waiting or walking up to the school to get them after school. They remembered cream of wheat, with or without Raisins or oatmeal cooked just right with a little canned milk added; drinking Postum (a hot coffee like beverage) with them in the mornings. She once told a grand that olives taste like pickles, Not Even Close. They remember her telling them that they should always keep 25 - 50 cents in your pocket for emergencies. If she had to give them the money she would let them know that they could use it for bus fare or lunch money. She taught them to be thrifty! She hated to see cornrows on any of the “grannie’s” hair. She would tell them they looked like railroad tracks. She just couldn’t understand why their mom did not let her do their hair, because she could screw a curl upon the head that would not drop for 2 weeks and sometimes three. Ethel had many clients that liked her tight curls also. MaMa was always willing to help; teaching those who would listen penmanship. She knew how to make things better! Big also had something for her “Grannies” to do; like yardwork or playing games or talk with each of them about something interesting. Big Gay was funny and caring! Ethel Louise Pierce-George, a truly remarkable, passionate woman; loving, dedicated mother, grandmother, great and great-great grandmother returned to her heavenly home on June 27, 2017 at 9:42 P.M. Ethel succumbed at her home of 53 years on 2894 Clermont St. where she celebrated 93 years of happiness. Ethel leaves to cherish her memory: daughter Khaliliah Omar Muhammad, and son Marvin (Linda) Pierce, sister Carol Ann Washington of Hampton, VA.,16 grandchildren, 44 great grandchildren, 19 great great grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Funeral Home: Pipkin Braswell Funerals and Cremation - 2050 Uinta Street, Denver, Colorado
Visitation: 7/5/2017 at 4:00 PM - Pipkin Braswell Chapel of Peace - 6601 East Colfax Avenue, Denver, CO
Service: 7/6/2017 at 11:00 AM - Scott United Methodist Church - 2880 Garfeild Street, Denver, CO
Cemetery: 7/6/2017 - Highland Cemetery - 10201 Grant Street Thornton, CO
Family Gathering: 7/6/2017 - Scott United Methodist Church - 2880 Gsrfield Street, Denver, CO