Sara Emmons

Published 5:00 am Wednesday, October 23, 2013

   Services for Sara Emmons will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at The First Baptist Church of Meridian, with Dr. Raymon Leake officiating. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. in the Welcome Center at the church. The burial service will be private. Webb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

    Sara died Monday at the age of 92. A central theme throughout Sara’s life was devotion to God and others. She was born in Meridian in 1921. She was in the first class to graduate from the new Meridian Junior College, located on the campus of Meridian High School, transferring to the Mississippi College for Women in Columbus, where she graduated with a degree in education. She then taught school for two years in Quitman before returning to Meridian, where she taught for more than forty years at Southside Elementary and Crestwood Elementary Schools.

    She also taught Sunday School for many years at First Baptist Church. A lifelong member of the church, she was a member of the Lydia-Elizabeth Sunday School class in recent years.  Following retirement from teaching in 1976, Sara worked for more than a decade at Troy Laundry and Cleaners and Troy Uniform Rental, both family-owned businesses.

    Active in many volunteer activities, Sara delivered Meals on Wheels for many years. She was a former member of the board of King’s Daughters and Sons and a member of the Heritage Club.

    Sara was one of 12 children. Though she never married and had no children of her own, Sara was surrogate mother and grandmother to her 24 nieces and nephews and their children. Sara was preceded in death by her parents, Rome A. Emmons, Sr., and Nita Flynt Emmons, of Meridian; by her brothers Rufus Emmons, Robert W. Emmons, Sr., and Francis Emmons, all of Meridian; and by her sisters, Jane Emmons, Fay Downey, and Elsie Johansen, of Meridian, and Anita Covington, of Quitman.

    She is survived by her brothers, James W. Emmons (Caroline) and Mack Emmons (Gloria) of Meridian, Rome A. Emmons, Jr. (Cola) of Hattiesburg, and Flynt Emmons (Janet) of Conroe, Texas., and by 21 nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren.

    Pallbearers will be her nephews James Covington, Rome Emmons III, David Covington, David Emmons, Dean Emmons and great-nephew Carter Emmons.

    The family appreciates the care provided by Harper’s Hospice during the past month, following Sara’s diagnosis with lymphoma.

    In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to the Emmons Family Scholarship at Meridian Community College, 910 Hwy. 19 North, Meridian, MS 39307, or to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1509, Meridian, MS 39302.

    Family and friends may sign the online memorial book, leave a personal note, or orders flowers at jamesfwebb.com