A Full Life: Emma has lived a very fulfilling life, and she keeps God at the center each and every day

Emma has lived quite a full life.

After being born in Columbia in 1918, it did not take her long to start working. In fact, Emma started working when she was just 11 years old, and she did not slow down. She took on a plethora of responsibilities and jobs, and she was good at what she did.

Being part of the only family of color in her town, Emma dealt with a lot as she was growing up, but she was also known by many as this amazing young woman who worked hard and never complained. That is why she was consistently offered jobs and was so sought after, and she could really do it all.

Emma held jobs as a housekeeper, doing laundry, as a cleaner, at the railroad, at multiple schools, and so much more. In each of those jobs, she showed a top-notch work ethic and made sure she left an impact every time. She put her head down and worked hard to make a living, and all her employers appreciated her.

What helped Emma be the great worker she was was her faith and devotion. She is a firm believer in God, and she always knew that, no matter how hard of a day she might be having, God was on her side and would get her through to the other side.

Speaking of which, Emma had a fall in more recent memory that left her blind due to her messing up the nerve system in her eye. But instead of complaining about it at the time or even now, whenever you ask her, she will simply say, “God has blessed me.”

God has blessed Emma with living to the ripe age of 106, and she is still going strong. She said a key to living as long as she has was not really thinking about it. She joked that anytime there was a 9 in the age, she and her granddaughter reversed it. That was their little way of making themselves feel younger, and at the same time, it was their way to make it seem as though age is just a number.

“I woke up and thanked the Lord every day,” Emma added when asked about the keys to living to 106. “I just thank the Lord for going for as long as I have. If it wasn’t for Him, I wouldn’t be here. Now, I can celebrate it because I’ve seen it.”

Now that Emma has come face-to-face with the fact that she is 106, she has fully embraced it. It is something to be proud of and thankful for, and it is also something that helps her have an even bigger appreciation for life than ever before.

What also gives Emma an appreciation for life is her family. She adopted two kids and has many grandchildren, and being able to raise her children was one of her greatest achievements.

“What you did for them, not to them.” This is a mindset Emma had when it came to raising her kids and helping with her grandkids, and it is something that really helped her succeed in such.

Emma is a proud mother who took care of her kids well, and in turn they love and respect her with all their hearts. She is the reason they are who they are today, and they are thankful to have learned from such an amazing mother.

Emma is proud of where she came from as well, as she grew up with three siblings and four half-siblings. As the oldest of eight (along with her sister), Emma was always looking out for her brothers and sisters, and she realized the true meaning of family.

She also knows what it is like to eat what you have. Not all the meals she had growing up were nutritious, or amazing for that matter, but you eat what is put in front of you, and that gave her a great perspective on life.  Emma shared how her family lived behind a butcher shop and grocery store.  Her family was often blessed to be given the extra meat from the shop that was left over before the weekend, because otherwise it would spoil.  

Emma shared that kindness always leaves a lasting impression.  She shared a story about one of her role models growing up in Columbia, who always welcomed the black maids into her house and always had a baked treat to make them feel special.  This was very impactful for young Emma, because through this experience she learned about hospitality, and it left a life long impression on her.  This lady always made her feel welcome and special, and therefore Emma always wanted to make others feel special and welcome too.

Miss Emma is also thankful that she can look back on many special moments and memories in her life, including the old man shoes story.  When Emma was younger, she worked for a man who owned a shoe store and he would give her shoes and kids would tease her saying they looked like “old man shoes”.  

Emma is also very proud that she obtained 17 credits from college and she loves spending time with children, teaching them, raising them and being with her family.  She was happy to offer her home to them as a safe place to play and take a break, knowing they would be greeted with kindness.  She still receives visits, cards and phone calls, which is a testament to the impact she made in their lives.

Emma is a true historian.  She assembled airplanes during the war effort and lived through the Great Depression. She has lived a life for her Lord and Savior, and she has lived a life that she has the right to be proud of.

Emma is 106, spunky, active and she is a beloved member of her family and the Masonic Villages community.