EMMA AGNES ALFORD GILMER

AAFA #0055

1918–2009

 

 

 

COMMERCIAL APPEAL

Memphis, Shelby Co., TN—Sunday, 1 November 2009

 

            Emma Alford Gilmer, 91, of Arlington, WA, went to sleep in her bed on October 28, 2009, and woke up in the arms of the Lord surrounded by His Angels. She had suffered a stroke earlier in the spring.

            Emma was born to Harry Edward and Carrie Alford March 11, 1918, at Skene, MS. She graduated from Skene High School and married Henry Clay Gilmer March 27, 1935. They enjoyed 60 years of marriage until Henry’s death in 1995. Mrs. Gilmer was a dedicated nurse and retired at the age of 65.

            She is survived by three daughters, Zada D. Wheatley of Marysville, WA, Sylvia Clay Gray of Memphis, TN and Harriet Ann Burks (Donald E.) of Arlington, WA. She leaves four grandsons, Donald W. Wheatley, Jr. (Donnia) of Oakland, TN, John W. Wheatley (Mazie) of Mukilteo, WA, Thomas Gilmer “Gil” Bridges (Lynne) of Arlington, WA and Joseph Clay Bridges of Arlington, WA, six great-grandchildren, Levi and Logan Bridges of Spokane, WA, Ashley Wheatley Owens of Oakland, TN, Polly Bridges Mitas (Chris) of Suwannee, GA, Alissa Nicole Eng of Mukilteo, WA and Savannah Lee Bridges of Arlington, WA, great-great-grandchildren, her beloved James Owens IV and Emma Claire Grace Owens of Oakland, TN, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

            She is preceded in death by her parents, Harry and Carrie Alford , brothers, Edgar Earl (Lola), Billie (Janie), and sisters, Dorothea (Dot) Kober (Vic), Harriet Brandau (John), and an infant called Little Sister.

            Mrs. Gilmer was a member of Hickory Withe Baptist Church.

            Graveside services will be held at Forest Hill East Cemetery, 2440 Whitten Rd., Memphis, TN at 2 p.m., Wednesday, November 4, with visitation one hour before the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association.

 

Photo from Forest Hill Cemetery East, Memphis, Shelby Co., TN—www.findagrave.com

 

AAFA NOTES: SSDI records confirm the birth and death dates of Emma A. Gilmer (SS# issued in MS), last residence Arlington, Snohomish Co., WA.

            We included the obituaries of her parents, Harry Edward Alford and Carrie Stelene Stanford Alford; brother Billie Alford; and sisters Dorothea Louise Alford Kober and Harriette Alford Brandau in Mississippi Obituaries.

            For more information on her family, see AAFA’s published genealogy, Known Descendants of John William Alford and Lennae W. Roden.

            Her lineage: Emma Agnes 1918 MS¹, Harry Edward 1885 MS², Theodore 1839 MS³, John William 1801 GA⁴.