EMMA EPPS

CHARLESTON -- Emma Mae Epps, 81, of Charleston died Thursday, Aug. 5, 1999, at St. Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

She was born Dec. 21, 1917, in Richardson, Tenn., daughter of Virgil and Julie Small. She and Harrison Epps were married April 20, 1939. He died April 8, 1996.

Epps had lived in Missouri since 1945. She was a member of St. Matthew's Baptist Church and its Mother Board.

Survivors include four daughters, Dorothy Jefferson of Kalamazoo, Mich., Queen Thomas of Charleston, Ida Ellison of Addison, Ill., Mildred Jones of St. Louis; six sons, Louis Macklin of Kansas City, John and James Epps of Indianapolis, Ind., Bobby and Willie Epps of Charleston, Charles Epps of Chillicothe; a brother, the Rev. Henry Small of Kansas City, Kan.; 73 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren; great-great-grandchildren; and great-great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at St. Matthew's Church, with the Rev. Lavern Frazier officiating. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery.

Friends may call at the church Wednesday from noon until service time.

Sparks Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.