Erselle Cain

Erselle Cain was born on January 29, 1958, in Columbus, Ohio at The Ohio State University Hospital. She was the beloved daughter of Floyd and Hazel Cain. Erselle grew up in Columbus and began attending Oakland Park Center in 1961 at the age of 3. At Oakland Park she enjoyed being around other children while building the educational foundation that guided her early development. Her grandfather, parents, and extended family all helped support and care for her throughout her school years. During her early childhood, Erselle and her family attended Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church under Pastor Dr. Robert F. Hairston, Jr. During that time the family lived on North Cassady Avenue in East Columbus near many relatives, including Aunt Beverly, Uncle Clarence, and Cousin Waverly.

Erselle enjoyed visiting The American Addition to spend time with grandpa and grandma Gardner and other near-by family. She especially liked going to the park, swinging, and visiting the zoo. She enjoyed socializing and being around people; she touched many lives. At age 9, Erselle moved with her parents to East St. Louis, Illinois where her father was employed at Scott Air Force Base, Belleville, IL. In 1973, at age 15, Erselle moved again with her family to Arlington, Virginia and later settled in Temple Hills, MD. Erselle continued her education at Hillcrest Heights Center in Prince George's County, MD where she graduated. At this school Erselle learned more important life skills.

Throughout her life, Erselle enjoyed many activities including movies, skating, swimming, traveling, camping, and visiting relatives in various states. She also participated in Special Olympics track events, where she enjoyed running and earning medals. During her young adult years, she also experienced living independently in a group home for a short period of time.

Erselle enjoyed music of all genres and loved dancing. She liked attending parties, social gatherings, and spending time with people. Erselle’s favorite holiday was Christmas. She enjoyed the Christmas tree and all the festivities, especially the music. She had a strong memory of lyrics and music. Erselle loved talented musicians. She loved the song, “Happy” by Pharrell and “This Girl is On Fire” by Alicia Keyes. Happy was what she made others feel so often when they were around her. Erselle was also a fashionista. She loved looking good. She enjoyed shopping for clothes and dressing up, looking through fashion magazines, getting her hair done, and expressing herself creatively. Erselle loved the creativity of arts and crafts. She loved working with stickers and doing drawings. She filled up numerous notebooks with her art. She admired the beauty of balloons, flowers, and stuffed animals.

In 1995, at age 37, Erselle returned to Columbus with her parents. She worked and retired from ARC Industries East, where she assembled products through contract work. Erselle even appeared in an ARC commercial promoting the work of the industry. Erselle enjoyed visiting nursing homes with her mother and was known for being kind to others, especially people with disabilities. Many people remember her infectious smile and her wonderful hugs. During her stay at The Ohio State University Hospital, nurses and staff often stopped by to greet her looking for that smile which would brighten up their day. She would not let anyone leave without letting them know that she wanted a soda! Before Erselle’s transition she expressed her love for her beloved mother, Hazel. In the hospital room even though she was getting top rated care and she was loved on by cousins, nurses and doctors, there was no one like her mom, Hazel. If her mom was not in the hospital room, Erselle knew it. She would say where’s mommy or where’s Hazel? When she talked to her mom, she would say, “where you been”? She was instinctively aware of her mom’s presence or lack thereof. Before taking her last breath, it was like she was thanking her mom for the excellent care she had provided over the years and not giving up on her by saying, “I love you mommy, I love you mommy, I love you mommy.”

Erselle is preceded in death by her loving father, Floyd Cain; brothers, Gregory Cain and Willis Lloyd Cain; grandparents (Gardner), William and Carrie Gardner; grandparents (Cain), Willie and Marie Cain; aunts and uncles (Gardner), Louisa Jones (Carroll), William Gardner (Willa Mae), Geraldine Hagey (James), Betty Moorehead (Alphonso), Beverly Hill (Clarence); aunts and uncles (Cain), Gladys Gayle (Buck), Geraldine Jefferson (J.), Willis Cain, Allie Barnes Cain (Patty), and Wilford Cain (Gloria). Erselle leaves to cherish her memory with her dear mother, Hazel Cain; brothers, Reginald Cain, Middletown, OH, and James Clea Washinton, DC; uncles Melvin Gardner, Columbus, OH and James Gardner (Marian), Los Angeles, CA; along with many other cousins, relatives, friends, caregivers, and all who knew and loved her.