emily moncrief echols
1909-2000
Life Story
Birth & Parentage
Emily Moncrief Echols was born on July 4, 1909, in Newton County, Mississippi. She was the daughter of John Moncrief, Jr. (1870–?) and Rosie Ella Wesley Moncrief (1871–1950), members of a long-established Newton County family network closely connected to church and community life.
Marriage & Family
Emily married a member of the Echols family. While her husband predeceased her, their marriage connected the Moncrief and Echols families, both of which appear frequently in Saint John and surrounding community records.
Church Membership & Faith
Emily was a faithful member of Green Grove Baptist Church during her lifetime. Despite her formal membership at Green Grove, her burial at Saint John Missionary Baptist Church reflects enduring family ties to Saint John and its cemetery.
St. John Homemakers & Extension Work
Emily Echols was an active participant in the St. John Homemakers Club and the broader Extension Homemaker program, which played a vital role in education, mutual aid, and community service among African American women in Newton County.
Newspaper accounts document that:
- Homemaker meetings were held in her home, underscoring her role as a community host
- She regularly participated in devotions, prayer, and scripture readings, including reading the 23rd Psalm
- She took part in community service projects, such as quilting projects for service and outreach
- She was associated with educational programs focused on home economics, crafts, and household improvement
Her consistent presence places her among the core group of women who sustained the St. John Homemakers Club over multiple decades.
Death & Burial
According to the Social Security Death Index, Emily Moncrief Echols passed away on May 15, 2000.
Funeral services were held on May 20, 2000, at Saint John Missionary Baptist Church in Newton, with interment in the Saint John cemetery. Arrangements were handled by Holifield Funeral Home.
Survivors (as listed in her obituary)
At the time of her death, Emily was survived by:
- Two sisters:
- Elizabeth Evans, Lawrence, Mississippi
- Lillie Mae Phelps, Newton, Mississippi
- Daughter-in-law: Anne Hicks, Carol Stream, Illinois
- Ten grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren
- A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives
She was preceded in death by her husband, her sons, and several siblings, including Robert, Charlie, Ed, and Bill Moncrief, and Willie Wilson.
Historical Significance
Emily Moncrief Echols represents a generation of Newton County women whose leadership unfolded quietly through faith, hospitality, and organized service. Her work with the St. John Homemakers Club—hosting meetings, supporting educational programs, and contributing to community projects—illustrates how Black women shaped civic life beyond formal titles, sustaining institutions that strengthened families and neighborhoods for decades.
Resting Place
Saint John Missionary Baptist Church Graveyard
Photos/Albums
Sources
- 1920 Federal Census
- U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
- Scott County Times, Emily Echols Obituary, Wed, May 31, 2000 ·Page 6
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
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