Emma Estella Myers

Mrs. Emma Burch Myers, age 92, passed away Wednesday, April 19 at the Gordon Hospice House after a brief illness. A native of Richmond County, Georgia, Mrs. Myers was born on August 31, 1924 to the late Alvin Leavy and Esther Wells Burch. Emma graduated from Blythe High School. She went on to receive her B.S.Degree in Home Economics from the Georgia State College for Women, Milledgeville, Georgia in 1945, majoring in institutional management, and while in college was a member of the Dietetics Club, the Young Women's Auxiliary and the Baptist Student Union Council. Emma continued her studies in the School of Dietetics at Charlotte Memorial Hospital. After finishing there, she worked as a registered dietitian at the Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem. She returned to Georgia and taught students at the Augusta Medical College. Emma married Mr. John A. Myers of Union Grove, North Carolina in Calvary Baptist Church in Augusta, Georgia on July 22, 1950 in a double ceremony with her sister Eugenia L. Burch and Arthur B. Wallace. After moving to Iredell, she was employed as a registered dietitian at Longs Hospital, Iredell Memorial Hospital, Hill Haven Nursing Home, and the Lula Conrad Hoots Hospital. Emma and John A. Myers subsequently went on to own and operate the Shady Oak dairy farm in the Cool Springs Community. She was a charter member of Faith Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. She volunteered with the Association for Retarded Citizens and was an active member of the Iredell Cattlemen's Association. Emma loved fishing and gardening. Mrs. Myers was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 33 years John Asbury Myers who died in 1984, as well as her nine brothers and sisters: Elma Burch Owens, Elsie Burch Brumeloe, Alvin Burch, Jr., Elizabeth Burch Ansley, W.L. Burch, Fred Burch, Alice Evelyn Burch, Eugenia Burch Wallace, and James Burch. Mrs. Myers is survived by three sons: J. Roger Myers (Donna) of Cleveland, Robert G. Myers and Donald C. Myers of the home; and a daughter, Esther Myers Clark (Wesley) of Knightdale, North Carolina. She is also survived by two grandchildren, Joseph A. Myers of Wasilla, Alaska and Erin C. Clark of Knightdale. She is also survived and mourned by dozens of loving nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at Faith Baptist Church on Sunday, April 23 at 2:00 pm. Burial will follow in the church cemetery, The family will visit with friends following the service. Memorials may be made to the Gordon Hospice House, 2371 Simonton road, Statesville, NC 28625 or the Arthritis Foundation, 1355 Peachtree Street N.E., Suite 600, Atlanta, Georgia 30309. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.nicholsonfunerals.com and Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family.