Emma Jean Gilmore

Emma Jean Gilmore a devoted mother, sister, and child of God, passed away in her sleep in her home on Sunday, April 21, 2024. She was a determined woman, full of grace, kindness, and love. Emma was servant-hearted, and over the years, she served different churches as an accountant, as a caretaker, and on the usher board. Emma was a homemaker, and factory worker in the orange industry. She may have been most proud of helping to open Kid’s Corner Learning Center, and serving as the daycare’s first cook. She loved feeding the daycare children, but this was far from the first time her generosity kept hungry people fed. She was famous in the church for cooking and for helping to fill empty bellies. This was true both in and out of church. In fact, she regularly made pies for several homeless people in the neighborhood for Christmas, Thanksgiving, and other holidays. One particular episode stood out in her son’s mind. On one of their many trips to Shand’s Hospital they encountered a single mom in the children’s wing of the hospital looking overwhelmed. It was touching the way Emma reassured her God was watching over her family, and shared the lunch they brought with the young women and her children. After Darius and Emma were done, they searched the hospital ward for the young family before leaving to make sure they were OK and had everything they needed. That was the way Emma cared for people in need. When asked if she had $20 to lend, her pat response was “Yeah, I got $20, but I got sense with it.” That belied her generous nature, and the lengths she would go to. One year, Darius desperately wanted an Xbox, but they were too expensive. She saved up all she could all year and surprised him with it on Christmas. It was a Christmas of unexpected generosity. Emma herself was a woman who could find joy in simple pleasures – baby-sitting, working at the daycare, or listening to Jamaican music. She loved her coffee and couldn’t go a day without it. She had the fondest of memories of her week long Caribbean cruise. Emma was truly from the old school, and had fun experiencing new things, technology, and places. It also meant she was soft-spoken and rarely complained. That’s not to say she had no foibles, however. She had an overwhelming fear and loathing of frogs and lizards. One of the funniest things anyone has ever seen is her running from a big green frog that was hopping…or as she described it, charging her. But in typically Emma fashion, once it was all over, she laughed at the whole episode. Friends and family remember Emma for that sense of humor, and for her faith, generosity, and kindness. Emma was preceded in death by her mother, Emma Reese Gilmore) and father, Charlie Felton. Emma is survived by her adoring Son, Darius Gilmore of Leesburg, Florida; Siblings: Shirley Fountain (Larry), Paula Smith (Jerry), Linda Cooper (Lamar), and Sharon Reese, all of Opelika, Alabama, Linda Felton, Betty Felton, Wanda Gainwell, CharlieMae Felton, Belinda Martin, Melvin Reese, and Charles Gilmore (Bobbie) of El Paso, Texas; Godchildren: Max Price, Kevin Gretzler, and Brande Mills; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other loving relatives and friends.

Tributes

Emma Jean Gilmore

January 30, 1958 - April 21, 2024