By Willette H Yarbrough Johnson
It’s not every day that one gets to give public commentary about an individual in their life who has blessed them with a healthy, inspired friendship. Today, I get to share a part of my story about my friend, Mrs. Emurriel Holloway.
This year, Emurriel was selected by Ms. Lucille & Company, owner of the Solid Gold Beauty Palace, to be celebrated as a Sister Legend of the Year during the annual gala event Sisters Who Are Legends. Loudly protesting this honor, she agreed to allow the recognition, kicking, and screaming during the entire planning stage. I told her I appreciated her humility, but sometimes, it simply makes sense to allow the people in your life to “give you your flowers now.”
In all the years I’ve known Emurriel, she’s been a consistent player in the game of making things happen. Her high energy level has been a contributor to her being able to get a lot of “stuff” done. Given her status as a wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and woman of God, she still finds time to be a friend, educator, mentor, community activist, and a person of action who is always ready to give a helping hand where she sees a need.
My journey with Mrs. Holloway began some 40 years ago. I met her when she was invited into the local Jack & Jill Chapter. We believed this affiliation would help to connect our children to others in the community with similar hopes, dreams, and desires. Throughout subsequent years, I got to know Emurriel better. We found commonality in our profession as educators, our love of traveling, and our commitment to making the world a better place. I also got to know members of her enormous family, including her late mother, during many of our vacations together. All her siblings and family demonstrate the highest respect for this number four child in a lineup of 13. As the years passed, we were blessed with other opportunities to connect. Along with Marjorie Hurst, Juanita O’Neal, and Gloria Williams, Emurriel and I helped to create The Beautillion, Inc. For many years, we used this platform to recognize and honor young Black males coming out of high school, similar to what cotillions did for females. Along the journey, Emurriel was initiated into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. which created the opportunity for me to call her “soror”. Our connection was strengthened when she invited me and I was accepted into membership with The Girl Friends, Inc.
Emurriel was graced with the title of Ms. Senior Massachusetts some years ago, and she wore her crown with distinction. It was gratifying to watch her riding on floats in parades, using her influence to spread a message of good will and unity. Over the years, Emurriel’s outreach to others has been relentless. Today, she is an outspoken member of Mass Senior Action Council, an organization that tackles head on the concerns of senior citizens. On any given day, you will find her heading out to engage in some public service, all the while finding time to interface with family and friends. Recently, our connection has led us to shared memberships at Alden Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Dr. LA Love, where we both seek to serve, grow spiritually, and contribute to kingdom building. Our most recent venture is the establishing of the Coalition of Experienced Black Educators, Inc., an educational consultancy group, with Dr. Gloria B. Williams, Dr. Bobbie Rennix and Mrs. Mary Worthy.
No matter how you slice it, this living legend is deserving of a celebration. The work she does continues to speak for her. Emurriel is a 56-year veteran of marriage to her beloved husband, Buford. They clearly figured out how to make it work. I truly believe Emurriel’s purpose is still unfolding through God’s plan (Jeremiah 29:11). Her garden is a showplace where she finds joy in laboring to keep it beautiful. I pray that she will remain a “difference maker” as she trusts in God to continue to order her steps. ■
Look for Sisters Who Are Legends – Part II in the October issue of POV where Tracey Thomas will be celebrated.
