EMMA CHRISTIE
Emma Edens Christie, 92, died Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2019, at Prisma Tuomey Hospital after a brief illness.
Born in Dalzell on June 26, 1927, she was the eldest daughter of the late James Mitchell Edens Sr. and Rosalie Rembert Edens.
Emma experienced both happy and hard times on the family farm and surrounding countryside. She graduated from Hillcrest High School and entered Winthrop College, then the South Carolina College for Women at 16. Graduating in three years, she began teaching at Barnwell High School at 19, where she was employed for 34 years. Teaching home economics living skills to hundreds of students, including the children of earlier students, she taught other diverse classes including business law and the much-loved South Carolina history.
Although it took a while for him to convince her, she met the love of her life in Joe Christie, and they married Aug. 19, 1951. Joe and his mother ran Christie's restaurant, and Joe saved the money Emma paid to eat there until he had enough to buy her wedding set. Emma claimed to be the only woman who ate her way to her engagement ring.
Emma loved living in Barnwell and in the fellowship of her Garden Club, Barnwell UMC Circle, neighborhood and teaching friends. She and Joe instilled the virtues of service to others to her children Joseph, Roseanne and surprise arrival, Lee. She took pride in filling her Main Street home with antiques and later, dozens of dolls. Emma and Joe had a love-filled marriage, and their love spilled over to so many through the care, hospitality and great food found in their home and sent to make people's days better.
After retirement, Emma spent increasingly more time at her childhood home, living with her parents through their final years. After her mother Nannie's passing, Emma moved to Sumter and continued having a quiet impact on the lives of those around her with her caring demeanor, philanthropy and genuine interest in countless relatives and family friends. She was a member of St. Mark's United Methodist Church. She was blessed to have wonderful housekeepers and "helpers," including years of faithful service from Quality Private Caregivers.
Emma was preceded in death by her husband, Joe; her son, Joseph Francis Christie Jr.; and her brother, James Mitchell Edens Jr. Surviving are her daughters Roseanne Christie of Sumter and Lee Christie Stapleton (Tom) of Huntersville, North Carolina, as well as her beloved and devoted sister, Frances Ann McIntosh of Sumter. She has one granddaughter, Emmalee Grace Stapleton, also of Huntersville.
Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Tirzah Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Dalzell with the retired Rev. Billy Lewis and the Rev. Wes Conner officiating. Contact Elmore Hill McCreight if directions are needed as online directions are confusing.
The family will receive friends at the home following the service.
Memorials may be made to St. Mark's United Methodist Church, 27 Broad St, Sumter, SC 29150 and to Tirzah Cemetery Association, PO Box 6, Dalzell, SC 29040.
Online condolences may be sent to www.sumterfunerals.com.
Elmore Hill McCreight Funeral Home & Crematory, 221 Broad St., Sumter, is in charge of the arrangements (803) 775-9386.