Emma was born in 1936 in Louisiana and moved to Houston in her teens. She began her career as a nursing assistant, but moved on to own both a restaurant and a boutique. She currently lives with her husband, Abbott, in the Liberty Gardens area. Together they have a big family-six children, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
"I am very outgoing-I like people and I love to cook and eat," says Emma. Those aren't her only passions, though. Emma enjoys swimming, fishing, jewelry making, ceramics, cake decorating and knitting. This August she joined the Salvation Army Women's Home League Corp. And if she finds the time in her busy schedule, Emma would love to visit Hawaii or Europe someday.
Q: Tell me about your current living situation.
A: "I've lived in my house for 38 years. And we've done quite a bit of remodeling in the past year through Rebuilding Houston Together. We had a walk-in shower installed and added a handicapped toilet with rails and bars. They're a big help because Abbot and I both have prosthetics, and I had fallen in the tub before. The shower is such a blessing-it's so nice being able to easily walk in and out."
Q: What were some of the challenges you faced in remodeling your home and how did you manage?
A: "I was a single parent for a long time before I met Abbott, and money was tight. There were changes we needed to make to our home, but when we checked out building contractors and bank loans, it didn't pan out because it was too expensive. So I started looking into programs for restoring homes. I applied to several and must have filled out five applications. Eventually, Rebuilding Houston Together selected me. The Lord gives you what you need when it's time."
Q: Did you ever consider other housing options?
A: "Of course I wanted to stay in my house. I told my husband that we might consider assisted living, but that didn't go over too well with him. So we had to look into how we could afford to get our house remodeled. We did find a way, and it's meant so much for us to be able to stay here."
Q: What advice would you give to someone thinking about their housing options?
A: "Don't give up. There is a lot of help out there for seniors. And I thank the Lord for that. You just have to find the right place to go. And be patient. A lot of us would be in bad shape, but because of organizations like Rebuilding Houston Together, we can make it."
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