Ester Grew up in Memphis attending Centenary United Methodist Church, where her pastor was civil rights leader the Rev. Civil rights issues were often discussed from the pulpit of her church, Ester said. In 1986, she was commissioned as a deaconess in the United Methodist Church, a type of lay minister . She remained active in the church throughout her life and held leadership roles that included serving as the national vice president of United Methodist Women. For love will always find a way for those who trust in Jesus and seek to love even in our differences.”