Notes for FLORENCE HALL EMMONS:

Daughter of Samuel and Ann (Mott) Hall.
Born: November 24, 1902 in Unknown.
Died: July, 1997 in Greensboro, Guilford County, North Carolina.
Education: 1920 - Graduated Olney Friends School, West Branch, Iowa.
Residence: 1995 - Greensboro, Guilford County, North Carolina.
Married: Chester Wilson Emmons June 27, 1929 in Harrisville, Ohio.

The following was read at Florence's memorial service.

Florence Hall Emmons died July 26, 1997, at the age of 94. She was born November 24, 1902, the 4th of 5 children of Samuel and Anna Mott Hall, of Adena, Ohio. The home and farm had been family-owned since her great great grandfather moved from North Carolina, and her ancestors were members of the Society of Friends since early in Quakerism. She graduated from Olney Friends School, Barnesville, Ohio, in 1920. A classmate, Chester Wilson Emmons, of What Cheer, Iowa, also of long Quaker heritage, had come from Scattergood School, then a three-year school, for his Senior year. Her fondest memory was of first seeing him there. She attended Earlham College, taught at Lone Oak primary school, worked at Olney, then graduated from Earlham College in 1929.

She and Chester were married June 27, 1929, and shared a wonderful life together until Chester died in 1985 at Friends Homes, Greensboro, North Carolina. They lived in New York City, Puerto Rico, Maryland, Peru, and Arizona, before moving to Greensboro in 1978. They raised five children, and Florence was a steadfast help in Chester's career with the U. S. Public Health Service, sometime traveling with him, always welcoming the many scientists who came to learn medical mycology from Chester.

She nurtured our bodies and spirits, and was the quintessential Mother. When we visited her, up to the last weeks of her life, she was still always anxious to know if we had a good bed and enough to eat. Always active in the several Friends Meetings they belonged to, most recently Friendship Monthly Meeting in Greensboro, she nurtured them as well. She loved poetry, nature and the outdoors, people, and especially young people. She was always busy, always helping others.

She is survived by a sister Bertha Hall Hawkins, and four of her five children: Helen E. Marshall, Richard W. Emmons, Donald A. Emmons, and Nancy E. Taylor. Her daughter Elizabeth Emmons Ohle died in 1991. There were 19 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. She was able to know and enjoy nearly all of this latest generation. Her last years were lonely without Chester, and her last months were painful, but she bore them bravely. She taught us how to live more fully.

We are grateful to Friendship Meeting, Friends Homes, and all of you for your love and support of her.