Emma Marie Droke

Emma was born January 8, 1933, to Thomas Anderson Barham and Sarah Margarette Bell Barham. She went home to be with the Lord on May 14, 2023, at Methodist Hospital in Germantown, TN, at the age of 90 years, 4 months, and 6 days. She was married to Charles Edwin Droke on June 5, 1958, and they were married 60 years before his passing in 2018. Emma went to school at Finger until the 10^th grade, then to Bethel Springs High School where she enjoyed playing on the basketball team. She graduated as Salutatorian of her class in 1950. She went to work for the Brown Shoe Company in Selmer, where she worked for 41 years until it closed. Jean and I noticed that when we were with her, she would often comment to others that she liked their shoes. We finally figured it out…it was only natural for her to notice shoes after working in a shoe factory for as long as she did.

Emma accepted Christ as her savior at a young age and was a member of Maggie Jones United Methodist Church. She loved her church and said everybody needs a church family.

Emma was a hard worker. She often said, “I had rather paint my lips and squeeze into my girdle and go to work any day.” There was always something to do at home everywhere you looked, and you could never get everything done that needed doing. She and Charles had a big garden, and they would get up early to work in the garden. She said you miss getting to see the rabbits and enjoy the cool of the day if you don’t get out there early.

Emma was caring, friendly, and hospitable. She looked forward to friends and family coming to visit. As long as she was able, she would make a cake of some kind when she knew everyone was coming. Often it was a new recipe that she found or gotten from a friend. At the very least she would keep a pecan pie or cake in the freezer to have on hand. She was famous for her pineapple coconut cake with 7-minute icing. When she was still able to drive before her health began to fail, she would often take food to neighbors who were sick or take a cake to welcome new neighbors. She felt bad that she had not been to visit the last neighbors who moved nearby.

Emma was very honest and wanted to make sure she paid what she owed. After her husband passed away, she kept up with bills, business, and taking care of her home. She said she always let Charles do everything and didn’t realize all that was involved. She kept up with paying bills by writing the due date on the calendar to make sure they were paid on time. She handled getting most repairs done at home. She did not hesitate to call someone if the faucet, garage door, or the air conditioning wasn’t working.

In addition to her parents and husband, Emma was preceded in death by two sisters: Daisy Estelee Reed and Tommye Lee Hysmith; one brother, Richard Ray Barham. She is survived by three nieces: Mary Jean Hysmith Nelms and husband Charles, Martha Jane Hysmith Qualls, and Judy Beth Reed Coffey and husband Kent; three nephews: Charles Ancel Reed, Michael Barham Reed and wife Donna, and Stephen Daniel Reed and wife Jeanne; fourteen great nieces and nephews and numerous great, great nieces and nephews.

Emma, we all loved you very much. We will greatly miss you, and we will keep you always in our hearts.

Services were held on May 18, 2023 at 3:30 PM at Shackelford Funeral Directors in Selmer, Tennessee, with Ryan Reed officiating. Burial followed in the Maggie Jones Cemetery at Finger, Tennessee. Pallbearers were Stephen Reed, Casey Reed, Joseph Reed, Paul Nelms, Charles Nelms and Anthony Qualls. Honorary Pallbearers were Mike Reed, Waylon Reed and Kent Coffee.