In the year, Nineteen Hundred and Nine, in the fourth month of the year, on the twentieth day of the month (April 20, 1909) a beautiful baby girl was born in the Antioch Community.  Her parents, Ezekiel "Zek" and Eliza "Lizzie Pagan Warren Stuart named her Elsie.  Elsie was the sixth child born to this union.  Her father was first married to Sarah Wilson Stuart.  Because of these two unions, Elise was blessed with many brothers and sisters.   She was the last living sibling.  She has also outlived all of her first- generation nieces and nephews.  During her 100th Birthday Celebration interview, she could only name twelve of her siblings.  Over the course of years and talking with different family members the following names will be recorded in history in no certain order, Ethal, Loretha, Rebecca, Sam, Pricilla "Silla", Bizo, Carl, Ethel, William, Mary, John, Lenzy "Len", Isaac "Ike", Settie, Anthony, Jessie "AJ", Willie, Calvin "Cal", Malkei, David "Dave", Dute "Duke", Gussie and Douglas. (Disclaimer: Due to the uncertainty of spelling and the use of nicknames, and just not knowing for sure of the siblings, please inform the family if you are certain of names and spellings).

She confessed her hope in Jesus Christ at a very young age and was baptized by the late, Rev. Matthew Stewart in the Antioch Baptist Church.  She remained faithfully in her giving and attendance until her health began to decline.  However, she still enjoyed visits from the Pastors and members that would come to see her in the nursing home.  She was the oldest living member of the church.  She grew up in the era of the horse and buggy.  Although she never had a license to drive, (only white folks could get a license during that time) she drove the family's first car to church a few times.

She received her education from the Antioch School, a one-room schoolhouse which had one teacher with students of all ages. She finished the seventh grade which was a great honor in her era.

In 1932, she was joined in Holy Matrimony to Acie "Book" Van Hook, Sr.  Their union was blessed with four sons, she stated, "I would have loved to have had some daughters but, I guess the Lord knows best".

Elsie experienced a lot in her 109+ years.   She loved to travel and met famous people such as, Lil' Richard as well as Sanford & Son (Red Foxx & Desmond Wilson. One of her biggest experience was to see an African American President in the White House.  At the top of her list would be the fact that a two mile stretch of Highway 332 (the section in front of Antioch Baptist Church) which leads from Prescott to DeAnn was renamed the Elsie Van Hook Highway.  This was due to the efforts and persistence of her great-niece, Bonnie Hess from Kansas City, MO.

Elsie lived a long and fruitful life.  She lived alone until the age of 99 when she had a fall.  She never minded being in the nursing home.  She thankful for the assist she received and the many friends she met.  Elsie contributed her longevity to prayers and treating people right.  She was thankful for life, her mind and the ability to eat.  She often asked the questions, "Why is the Lord keeping me here".  There is a time to everything, a time to live and a time to die. It was not her time until the morning of Saturday, January 26, 2019 when she answered the voice of the Lord, she took his hand and left the troubles of this life behind to be in the presence of the Lord forever.  To God be the glory for the great things he has done.

Those completing the journey before her include her aforementioned parents, husband and siblings; sons, Harvey Gene Van Hook, Alvin Van Hook and James Henry Van Hook; siblings, nieces, nephews and extended family.

Those left to cherish her memory and to continue her legacy include her son, Acie (Eserlean) Van Hook, Jr. of St. Louis, MO; a grandson whom was adopted as her son, Kenneth (Cindy) Van Hook of Los Angeles, CA; daughter-in-love, Beverly Van Hook; twenty-three grandchildren, twenty-one great grandchildren and twenty-four great-great grandchildren; a host of great nieces and nephews which expands to at least six generations; her Hillcrest Nursing Home Family, Antioch Church Family and many extended family and friends.

Well done thou good and faithful servant.