Emma L Smith

Emma Lee Lawson-Smith was born April 23, 1937 to the late Myles Freeman Sr, better known as Jack Freeman, and Alice Delaney-Freeman in Midnight, Mississippi. She was the ninth of ten children. She was preceded in death by the following siblings: Robert, Moses, Andrew, Howard, Bettie, Charles, Frances, Mildred, and Myles Jr.

Emma met and married her first husband Isaiah Lawson in 1955, who preceded her in death in 1980.

In the 1960's, Emma moved to Chicago, Illinois from the Mississippi Delta to start a new life. Emma found her church home at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. James Bass, where she spent most of her years as a faithful member of the church as well as a member of the Loving Hearts.

Emma earned her GED and went on to become a CNA. She would work for Covenant Village of Northbrook nursing home where she retired after working for 30 years. Later, she met and married Jessie Smith in 1984, he preceded her in death in 2015. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, arts & crafts, baking and traveling with her sisters.

Surrounded by family, Emma was called home on Saturday, October 14, 2023. She leaves to cherish her memory her son, Donald (Carolyn) Lawson; her daughter Jennifer Lawson-Garvin; a stepdaughter Vivian Brown; five grandchildren Jonathan, Jessica, Rodney, Taranekia and Rhonda and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

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