Obituary
“For I am now ready to be
offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight,
I have finished my course, I have
kept the faith.” ~ II Timothy 4:6–8
Emma Lee Reynolds Purnell was
born on January 12, 1947, in Lake Providence, Louisiana, to Elizabeth Reynolds
and the late Samuel Wells. Emma’s family relocated to Tallulah, LA, while she
was a child. She was the oldest of 13 children. Emma was educated in the
Madison Parish School System. She worked as a cook at TA Truck Stop (Country
Pride Restaurant), until her retirement.
On January 14, 2021, the Lord
beckoned for Emma to come lay down her burdens and rest, and she quietly and
submissively answered HIS call.
She accepted Christ at Rising
Sun Baptist Church, under the leadership of the late Pastor Harvey and was
baptized on August 31, 1986. After the church’s closure, she joined the New
Light Baptist Church family, under the leadership of the late Bishop Paxton
Branch, Sr., where she remained a faithful member, under the leadership of
Pastor Johnny Robinson until her time of death. Love of her family, especially
her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, was her number one joy in life. She
loved to worship at New Light while her health allowed and watch the New Light
Youth Praise Team dancers and the Powell Brothers sing on Sundays. Emma met Joe
Purnell, and they were united in marriage on September 20, 1980, and she
remained committed to him until his death on June 25, 2018. Theirs was a
love story like none other.
Emma was preceded in death by
her husband, Joe Purnell; grandparents, Sam and Cherry Reynolds; stepfather,
George Moore, Sr.; father, Samuel Wells; stepmother, Pearline Wells; sisters,
Irma Jean Moore, Cherry Moore, and Willie Jean Pearson; brothers, Sam Willis
Moore and Jimmy Reynolds; and great-granddaughter, Kejoya Reynolds.
She leaves to cherish her
memories: her mother, Elizabeth Moore; her one and only daughter, Joyce
Reynolds-Dunbar (Bobby Dunbar, Sr.); five sisters, Linda Moore (Jessie), Cora
Moore (Bully), Essie Moore, Mary Payne, and Faye Young; five brothers, David
Moore (Tracy), Larry Donnell Moore (Yumi), George Moore, Jr., Jessie Moore, and
Frank Johnson; grandsons, Daryll Reynolds, Sr. (Sonya), Kevin Reynolds, Larry
Reynolds, Sr., Bobby Dunbar, Jr., and KeDarlon Malik Reynolds, Sr.; 14
great-grandchildren, 11 great-great-grandchildren; and a host of aunts, uncles,
nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.
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in memory of Mrs. Emma Purnell, please visit our floral store.