ESSEX, Ina Kate, 88, went to heaven on Tuesday, August 28, 2018 from complications relating to her recent stroke. In hospice care, the past few days, she died peacefully in her sleep surrounded by her three children. She leaves her daughter Joy Linder and her husband, Barry; son Terry Essex and his wife Cindy; and son Wayne Essex and his wife Susan, grandchildren Max, Ava, Matt, Ryan, Sara (Boyd) Matthews and Michael (Leslie) Essex, great grandchildren Blake, Ezra, Quinn, Georgia, Ryan and Lukas. She was proceeded in death by her husband Talmage Essex, on January 25, 2002. They were married 47 years. Born in Cookeville, Tennessee on August 11, 1930, where she was raised on a farm with her seven brothers and sisters. She was the last surviving sibling. Ina spent her teenage and early twenties working her way through high school, at Baxter Seminary/Upperman High School, nursing school, at Memphis’ Baptist Memorial Hospital and college, at Tennessee Tech University. Talmage and her settled in Dayton, Ohio, where she has now resided for sixty plus years. She worked at Dayton’s Children hospital, as a registered nurse, for 32 years. She served, along side her husband, at several churches, as an adult and youth Sunday school teacher. A lifelong student of the Bible, she earned a Ph.D., in Biblical studies, while in her seventies. One of her favorite Bible verses was Acts 16:31, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house.” After her husband died, she founded Prayer Partners for Jesus. A prayer ministry that, for sixteen years, has brought a group of people together to pray, daily, for various needs. Long known for her love and generosity, she helped fund various ministry works. Funeral Service 1:00 p.m. Friday, August 31 at the GEORGE C. MARTIN FUNERAL HOME,”Northridge Chapel,” 5040 Frederick Pike at Needmore Road. Pastor Mark Long, of First Dayton Freewill Baptist Church, where she has been a long time member, officiating. Interment Dayton Memorial Park Cemetery.