Obituary

Sometime in the hours leading up to January 1, 2021 the Lord called Emma Lee Jackson's name and she answered.

Emma Lee was known to her Florida family and friends as "Syrup". To her sisters and other relatives she will forever be remembered as "Honey".

Emma Lee was the 6th of 12 children born to the late Deacon James and Willie Bell Thornton on March 28,1926 in Cuthbert, Georgia.

Emma Lee would frequently tell stories of her adventures with her siblings and the hard work endured of life growing up on a farm.

In 1943 Emma Lee married the late Joe Jackson. They started a life together in Ft. Gaines, Georgia and eventually moved to their home in the Glades community in South Florida. After moving to the Glades community Emma Lee and Joe grew their family when they received the most precious gift of all, a daughter named Ida Mae.

Emma Lee worked as a Field Supervisor in Mr Murray Weeks' celery fields. She continued to work as the company transitioned to South Bay Growers, Inc. and ultimately a division of U.S. Sugar. She dutifully worked in the agriculture industry for over 45 years.

Emma Lee was reared in a Christian home and exercised her faith her entire life. When she moved to Florida she joined Mt Olive Missionary Baptist Church of Lake Harbor, Florida in 1955. She would later move her membership to Greater Union Baptist Church in South Bay, Florida. In the last year of her life she returned to Mt Olive and rejoined her "home'' church.

Emma Lee is preceded in death by her mother and father, her husband the Late Joe Jackson, her brothers Albert Thornton, Johnnie Thornton, Willie Thornton, Charlie Thornton, and Wallace Thornton, her sisters Willie Maud, Bessie, Essie, Lillie Mae and her only grandson Joseph Abrams, Jr.

Emma Lee leaves to cherish her memories: a loving and devoted daughter Ida Mae Jackson Calhoun and son-in law Horace Calhoun III of Ft. Myers, FL, one granddaughter Chandra Calhoun Thornton and grandson- in - law Brian Thornton of Royal Palm Beach, FL , one great granddaughter Brittany Abrams and one great great granddaughter Naomi Abrams of Ft. Myers, FL, two sisters Rosa Lee Dunn and Annie Mae Benton both of Cincinnati, Ohio,  a special niece Annie Clyde Edwards and lifelong friend Mary Ford both of South Bay, FL, a host of nieces, nephews and sorrowful friends and family members.