Estella Heckel

“I do what I want and say what I want to say” Estella Heckel”

Estella Heckel, age 90, of Herrin, passed away at 6:37am on Wednesday, November 25, 2020 at Integrity Healthcare of Carbondale.

She was born Ida Mae Anderson in Colp, Illinois, on November 3, 1930, and her birth parents were John Anderson and Ida Mae Robinson. She was raised by her father and stepmother Sallie Mae Anderson. Estella had three brothers Urai, Cornelius, George, and a half-sister, Estella Henry.  During the 1950s, she changed her first name to Estella and moved to Charleston, VA. She met Robert Porter. They had three children, Brenda Kay, Robert Leroy, and Cavatis.  She experienced child loss and divorce, and relocated her children to Columbus, OH to be closer to her brothers, Urai and Cornelius, and met Samuel Scott.  In the mid-1950s –1960s, she was the first black family to own their own home in Franklin County, Ohio. Through the mid-1960s – the 1970s she relocated to Colp, IL to care for her parents. She worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant at the Anna State Hospital, Anna, IL. She became the first black female-owned food truck “Stella” providing students at Southern Illinois University food. By the late 1970s, she married Clarence Eugene Heckel.  Clarence and Estella relocated to San Diego, CA. In the 1980s-2000s became a Willie Morrow Hair Stylist, owned Stella’s Daycare, and was a foster parent.  She was always evolving with style and did what she wanted to do.

Estella is survived by her daughter, Brenda Kincaid, son-in-law, Clarence Kincaid Jr., daughter-in-law, Carmen Porter, Six grandchildren, Tonette Salter, Robert Gabriel Porter, Scott Franklin Porter, Robert Anthony Porter, Candace Porter, Cavatis Porter, Felicia Porter, 10 great-grandchildren, Benjamin Salter, Robert Porter, Kassandra Lynn Porter, Michael Scott Porter, Sophie Renee Porter, Robert Anthony Porter Jr., Elijah Porter, Jennah Porter, Christian Anthony Porter Jr., Sabra Nevaeh Rodriguez Porter.

Inurnment will take place at a later date at Fort Rose Crans National Cemetery in San Diego, CA. Johnson-Hughes Funeral Home in Herrin is assisting the family with final arrangements.