Emma Jane Gibbs

Mrs. Emma Jane Gibbs Berrong, 104, died Monday, May 13, 2002. Mrs. Berrong was born in Jackson County near Commerce on February 16, 1898, but lived most of her life in Habersham County. She was a daughter of the late Leonard Hamilton Gibbs and Minnie Elizabeth Burns Gibbs, and was the last surviving member of her family. Mrs. Berrong was an Alumna of Piedmont College, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was a teacher in the Habersham County school system for 16 years. She was the oldest living member of the First Presbyterian Church of Cornelia, where she served as organist and pianist during its early years. She later taught Adult Sunday School Class and Circle Bible Studies. For nine years, Mrs. Berrong was a housemother at Brenau College and co-manager of the College Bookstore. She was preceded in death by her husband of 38 years, Joseph Leroy Berrong, a daughter, Lorraine Burns Berrong, and a son-in-law, Donald L. Rowlee. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 16, at the First Presbyterian Church of Cornelia with the Rev. Blaine Walker officiating. Survivors include daughters and sons-in-law, Mary Wynne and James C. Davis Jr., Carlisle, Mass., Joanne Rowlee, Ellicott City, Md., Yvonne and Bomar Olds, Cornelia, Jane and Stephen Engquist, Mt. Airy, Elaine and Vaughn Earl Hartsell, Max Meadows, Va., and Phyllis and Charlie Gary, Alomogordo, N.M.; 13 grandchildren, Martha Burns Davis, James C. Davis III, Jane Davis Williams, Susan Rowlee Testoff, Barbara Rowlee Ford, David Rowlee, Derek Engquist, Benjamin Engquist, Rand Hartsell, Molly Hartsell Robosson, Paige Hartsell DuPont, Tamara Gary Swilley and Reid Gary; and 17 great-grandchildren, Simone Nicastro, James C. Davis IV, Page Wynne Williams, Gaelyn Williams, Bryn Williams, Aaron Testoff, Tucker Testoff, Johnathan Ford, Daniel Ford, Parker Kellner, Vaughn DuPont, Sukha DuPont, Elam Swilley, Matthew Swilley, Lauren Gary, Kayla Gary and Amber Gary. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Global Missions, First Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 165, Cornelia, GA 30531. The family was to have received friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home, Cornelia. McGahee-Griffin & Stewart Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

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