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- Cremnc.com
Emma D. Bass (Picture included)
September 20, 1927 ? October 17, 2020
Emma is predeceased by her husband of 60 years Rev. Walton N. Bass, her parents Birkner and Martha Simmons, her brothers Rudolph, Birk Jr., John L., Levi and sisters Maggie, Sadie, Kathleen and Martha. She is survived by her son W. Needham Bass, Jr and wife Phyllis, her daughter Smithie Parrish, grandchildren Joe Parrish and wife Scarlet, Christie Plummer, Jonathan Bass and wife Kimberly and four great grandchildren Kiaya Plummer, Eilidh Bass, Adam Hill and Jacob Hill. Emma was born in 1927 and grew up in Burgaw, NC. She was blessed with curly red hair that was to be her signature most of her life. She attended Louisburg College where she met the love of her life, Walt. They married in 1948. She was a lifelong Methodist married to a Methodist minister. A talented pianist, she played at most of the churches they served. She taught herself to play organ and started several choirs and many United Methodist Women circles. She was active in the UMW throughout her life and served in offices at many levels from local to national. In 1960 she returned to school at East Carolina University to complete her degree in Education while she had two young children, an hour commute each morning and afternoon. If anyone was born to be a teacher, it was Emma. She began teaching at Pinehurst Elementary in Moore County for three years, a year in Cary and then taught in Durham City for more than 30 years. Among many other things, she was famous with the children for being the teacher who dressed up as Mrs. Claus every Christmas, a wicked witch every Halloween and a Pilgrim every Thanksgiving. She was also an advocate for teachers. She was active in the professional organizations, Durham City Association of Educators, North Carolina Association of Educators and the National Association of Educators as well as Alpha Delta Kappa sorority. She served offices at many levels in all these organizations. Although she loved to go to conventions around the country, her real love was to travel with Walt. They traveled throughout Europe and the Middle East always bringing back lots of photos, slides and stories. For many years Emma served on the board of United Methodist Retirement Homes. She worked diligently to move and expand the Durham Methodist Retirement Home to Croasdaile Village. When it came time to retire, she was eager to move to Croasdaile, where she served on several boards and even found time to call bingo each week. She lived there until her death. Emma loved Croasdaile and believed in its mission. She met many new and old friends there. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to WCPE the Classical Station or Susan G. Koman.
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Bassett Family Association Database
1927 - 2020 (93 years)