Emma Virginia Francis (Lyles)'s Obituary
Emma Virginia Francis, born Emma Virginia Marrow on January 23, 1927 from the union of Samuel O. and Edith Rebecca Marrow in Portsmouth, Virginia. She was the youngest of seven children in the order: Ozzo and Olonza (twins), Rosa, Ruth, David, Jack, Emma.
Emma was united in marriage to her first husband Theodore R. Lyles from which they were blessed with two wonderful sons Ozzie and Teddy Lyles who brought her 11 grandchildren and 12 Great-Grandchildren.
Grandchildren: Ozzie: Rico, Jeffrey, Shawn, Mia, Taylor and Paula
Teddy: Tiffany, Ted Jr., Christopher and Nicholas
Great-Grandchildren: Rico: Dominique and baby on the way ….
Tiffany: Kaitlyn, Hailey, Marlo & Malory (twins) and Donovan
Jeffrey: Kellen, Landen and Torrey
Teddy: Marley
Nicholas: Samara
Christopher: Calista
Daughter-in-law: Teddy: Suzanne Lyles, devoted and loving wife of Teddy for the last 30 years.
Emma’s roots began in Portsmouth, Virginia. As a result of being the child of a career Naval Officer, she lived in Panama while spending the majority of her youth in Washington, DC. The family later relocated to Berkeley, California, where she attended and graduated from Berkeley High School. She began her working career with the U.S. Naval Hospital in Oakland, California with her career spanning almost 30 years. During this time, she also worked part-time with 10 years at Del Monte Cannery in Oakland. Her career with the U.S. Naval Hospital was cut short with her diagnosis of breast cancer. After defeating breast cancer, she pursued a career with her true passions and talents in a variety of domestic services and charity work for more than 40 years.
With Emma’s cancer diagnosis in the early 1970’s, she was given 5 years to live. Through the health crisis she was facing, she pursued a deeper relationship with God which became the driving force for the remainder of her life. Although Emma was always a loving and caring person, with this deeper appreciation for God, she dedicated her life to Him and serving others.
In 1988 she married Horace Francis and relocated to Dunnigan, California where she remained for the next 21 years after his death in 1992. She embraced and truly loved the transition from city living to country farm living.
She was a devoted daughter, loving mother, grandmother, family member and true friend to all. For may years she was and active member of The East Oakland Faith Deliverance Center in Oakland, California and with her move to Dunnigan, she became an active member of Victory Praise Tabernacle in Knights Landing, California.
She expressed her love for family in a variety of ways. She will be remembered most for her love of family, gardening, baking and her playful nature.
She was affectionately known by her two sons as “Mother Dearest”, “Mom” and “Spanky”. To other family members she was known as “Aunt Emma” and “Auntie Mom”. Her most beloved name was “Nana” which she was tenderly referred to by not only her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but also a host of nieces, nephews and extended family. A name she proudly embraced as a loving elder to all.
It was from proud ownership of two-family run restaurants (Marrow and Sons, a bakery in Washington DC; and another pastry restaurant in Val Verde, CA) where she gained a love for baking. Her passion for baking was a joy she shared with not only family and friends, but with a variety of homeless shelters and those in need. Her secret key ingredient was a heaping spoonful of unconditional love with every pastry she created. Like many of her generation, her spirit embraced a commitment of service, to give and help those less fortunate.
Nana will be remembered for her endearing smile, warm heart, and sense of humor. She enjoyed making people laugh, singing and playing games with the family. A few of her favorites were hide-n-seek, dodge ball, and a variety of board games – all rolled into a beautiful fun-loving spirit.
Emma suffered a stroke in February 2013. She was selflessly cared for by her loving sister-in-law and nephew, Yolonda and Ozzo Morrow until she fell asleep in bed on 10.26.2013.
She leaves to mourn, her sister Ruth Marrow; sister-in-laws, Maria Clay (Olonzo), Eileen Marrow (Jack), and Yolonda Marrow (Ozzo); her sons, Ozzie Lyles & Teddy Lyles and wife Suzanne Lyles; grandchildren Rico and wife Melissa Lyles, Jeffrey and wife Ana Lyles, Shawn , Mia and Taylor Lyles, Paula Welch, Tiffany Lyles and husband Donald Hill, Ted Lyles Jr., Chris Lyles and partner Erica Nurse, Nick Lyles and partner Sisi Bryson; her great grandchildren; a host of nieces and nephews, great-nieces/nephews, and extended family.
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