Esther Lee Reddick-Vinson, was born on July 16, 1928 in Alma, Missouri the fourth child of Randall and Flora Nee Hayes-Reddick. She attended and completed her primary and secondary education at Lincoln School in Blackburn, Missouri. On March 9, 1929 she was baptized of the Lutheran faith, later to be instructed and confirmed into full communion on December 6, 1942 with Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Alma, Missouri under the leadership of Pastor A.H. Griesse. She started her journey and career in Topeka in 1949, taken under the wings of her favorite cousins Jesse and Danny Stevens. She married Allen Johnson on December 15, 1947 from this union two daughters were born, later divorced. She then united in marriage to Melvin Vinson on October 10, 1966 and to this union one son, they later divorced. Esther's work history began as an elevator operator at Pelletier's Department store, she also did cosmetology work for Maxine's beauty shop for 8 years. She later attended Kaw Area Vocational Technical School and was certified as Geriatric CNA, after working 3 years in the medical field she pursued to become a food service worker for Ramada Inn Executive Manor Inc. and Topeka Country Club for 15 years. Esther was the "ROCK" and "Mentor" of her family. She wanted better things for her siblings so she encouraged them to come to the big Capital (Topeka) to reside, her twin Elsie, sister Louise and brother Billy, this included cousins Arthur and Major. She opened up her home to accommodate the families until they were established on their own. She had a big heart and was very protective of her family. She was a very independent individual and liked everything to be in place, she had a strong constitution about life itself and was very set in her own ways of how life should be lived and she did not deviate from that up to the very minute God called her home. She attended St. John Lutheran Church a number of years and transferred to Hope Lutheran in the early 70's. After she stopped her driving skills she mostly attended when she could.
Her parents; siblings, Aldon, Anna, Elsie (her twin), Mary and Louise all preceded her in death. She is survived by daughters, Sharon (Lester) Lewis, Charita (Robert) Warren of Topeka, Kansas; a son, Carey (Theresa) Muhommad of Kansas City, Missouri; 7 Grandchildren and 13 Great-Grandchildren; several nieces, nephews; a host of other relatives, extended families and friends.