Normal - Emma Lee Edwards, 75, of Normal, passed away at 8:10 a.m. on Wednesday, January 8, 2020, at Aperion Care in Bloomington.
Her funeral service will be held at 11: 00 a.m. on Saturday, January 18, 2020, at Union Missionary Baptist Church in Bloomington. A visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. Kibler-Brady-Ruestman Memorial Home in Bloomington is assisting the family with arrangements.
Interment will be at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery in Bloomington. Memorial contributions may be left to the Alzheimer's Association.
Emma was born on November 25, 1944, in Frenchmans Bayou, Arkansas, a daughter to Richard Edwards and Pearl Lee (Wilford) Johnson. She had a special bond with her maternal grandparents, Luther and Georgia Wilford. She accepted Christ at an early age at First Baptist Church in Frenchmans Bayou, Arkansas.
Surviving is her step-father, James Johnson of Bloomington; six brothers, Herman (Daisy) Johnson of Springfield, Sylvester Johnson of Normal, John Johnson of Bloomington, Michael Johnson of Indianapolis, Indiana, Donald (Lisa) Johnson of Bloomington, and Kenneth (Carolyn) Johnson of Bloomington; three sisters, Bobbie Johnson of Bloomington, Josephine (Francis) Sargent of Peoria, and Leatha (Jeff) Martin of Shelbyville, Indiana; best friend, Ella McKissack of Chicago; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents.
Emma graduated from Marked Tree High School in Marked Tree, Arkansas, and moved to Chicago, Illinois, to pursue her career. She attended Lincoln Land College where she earned a Certificate as a keypunch operator and later attended Olive-Harvey College in Chicago. She later moved to Calumet City, Illinois, where she resided until she moved to Normal.
She worked for Commonwealth Edison (Exelon) retiring after over 20 years of service, then she worked for the City of Calumet. Emma also worked as a Travel Agent for many years with BCY Travel in Chicago and Wayne Griffin Travel in Arlington Heights. She was the Treasurer for The Park of River Oaks Condominium Association and was on the Board of Directors for HOH. Emma was a member of Fellowship Baptist Church in Chicago under the late Pastor Clay Evans where she served on the nurse's board. Emma loved to travel, spend time with her friends and family, and had a passion for shopping.
Visitation
JAN
18.
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM (CST)
Union Missionary Baptist Church
509 W. Jackson St.
Bloomington, IL 61701
Funeral Service
JAN
18.
11:00 AM (CST)
Union Missionary Baptist Church
509 W. Jackson St.
Bloomington, IL 61701
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