Mrs. Essie Mae Babbs was born on September 29, 1934, in Candler County to the late Mr. Sidney and Mrs. Louise Lawrence Lanier. Mrs. Babbs completed her GED during her adult years. She retired from the Candler County Board of Education approximately twenty years ago. Mrs. Babbs accepted Christ into her life at an early age. She was a devoted and faithful member of Tremount Temple Baptist Church in Metter, Georgia, where she served in the choir and as a Mother of the church until the LORD called her home. Mother Babbs was a pillar in her community for many years. She believed in helping those less fortunate in her community; feeding the hungry, clothing the needy and she shared motherly advice and words of wisdom to all. Mrs. Babbs was preceded in death by her husband Willie "Sam" Babbs; one child, Richard Lewis Lanier; five sisters: LIllie Marion Taylor, Cindy Mary Mays-Hastings, Louise Wright, Estelle Lanier, and Roberta Symonette; five brothers: Willie Lanier, Alexander Lanier, Charles Lanier, Grady Lanier and Ben Lanier; and two grandsons: Micah Shorter and Trivon Edwards. Mrs. Essie leaves four children to cherish her memory: two daughters: Mrs. Carol Mincey (Bobby) of Metter, Georgia and Mrs. Sharon Shorter of Warner Robins, Georgia; two sons: Mr. Keith Lanier of Metter, Georgia and Mr. Stanley Bernard Babbs (Linda) of Macon, Georgia; and a host of wonderful grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, church family and neighbors.