Ellen M. Laster

Ellen M. Laster, who went by the nickname, “Sweet Meat,” was the fifth born to the late Evangelist E. T. Pickett and Otis C. Laster. She was born on May 27, 1953. She was peacefully called home to be with the lord on May 12, 2022. Ellen went to grammar school at Lief Ericsson Elementary and Flowers High School in Chicago, Illinois. She graduated in 1971. She met the love of her life, Thomas Bates, in 1981. They continued to make their union official in 1999, when they got married. She took care of others for years as a home health aide. She continued over the years to work in several different fields such as security, supervisor, Wells Fargo lead security, a teacher’s aide, and a host of other jobs. These jobs helped her to provide for her children. Everyone knew Ellen as the life of the party. She loved dancing and listening to music. She loved old school music the most. Her favorite artist was Tyrone Davis. The song that she liked the most by him was “In The Mood.” She was preceded in death by her mother, Evangelist E. T. Pickett; father, Otis C. Laster; four sisters, Caiserene Collins, Annie Collins Pickett, Joann Pickett, and Evangelist Sandra Pickett; and one brother, Sammy Pickett. She leaves to cherish her memories, husband, Thomas Bates; two daughters, Wyvonia Pickett and Lonya Pickett; two sons, Richard Eames and Larry Pickett; twenty-eight grandchildren; siblings Benjamin Pickett (Pete), Elijah Thomas (Pep), Joseph Pickett (Lil Bro), Tommy Collins (Wolf), Otis Collins (Killer), Ozzie Pickett, Janie Smith, Mildred Thompson (Peach), and Serentha Hewitt; special daughters-in-law, Sandra Terry, Tiki Howard, Rodshanda Trammel, Nicki Jennings, Lazjoy D. Mitchell, and Flora Hunter; mother-in-law, Barbara Jean Langs; sister-in-law, Jeanie Bates; brothers-in-law, Edward Bates, and John Bates; father of her children, Robert Hinton; three special friends, Glenda Keys, Bobbi, and Loretta; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

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