Emma Elizabeth Brockman Hamm died December 18, 2008 at Memorial Baptist Hospital in Beaumont following a brief illness. Born to Charles and Ruth Brockman on February 21, 1923, Emma lived in Beaumont her entire life.
After graduating from South Park High School as third highest girl in the Class of 1940, Emma went on to earn a degree from Lamar College, and then worked as a lab tech at the old Magnolia Refinery for several years.
On September 30, 1944 Emma married Curley D. Hamm, and they were blessed with four children. Upon the arrival of the first child, Emma left her job at the Magnolia Refinery to raise her children. Emma put her whole heart into that task and was very active in the lives of her children, serving as president of the South Park PTA, working with Cub Scouts as a den mother, and teaching Sunday school for many years. Emma was very proud of her job as mother and homemaker, and never said, "I'm just a housewife".
Emma was also very active in her church. Over the years she served as President of Church Women United, deaconess, Director of Christian Education, Elder and many other capacities. For many years she was a member of Washington Boulevard Christian Church, but in her latter years she made her home at First Christian Church.
For the last 20 years, Emma was a faithful volunteer first at M.A.S.H. and then at Memorial Hermann Baptist Hospital in Beaumont as a part of Senior Friends. She especially loved going to see all the new babies and registering them for Shots Across Texas. Emma also volunteered with the Christmas Bureau for many years, and served on the board at Sabine Oaks. Emma loved helping people and was always ready to answer a call for help.
Emma loved to travel and was privileged to visit many places over the years including West Virginia, Hawaii, Las Vegas, Alaska, New York, New Mexico, Tennessee, Branson, MO, a cruise on the Mississippi River and many other places.
Reading was always a passion for Emma. She actually said she wanted to be a librarian after winning a scholarship upon her graduation from high school, according to an article in the Beaumont Enterprise. Naturally, she also loved word puzzles and games, and she played Scrabble every afternoon for many years. She would often use some strange string of letters, and when challenged, she would just smile and hand over a dictionary. "It's a little bird," she would say, and it almost always was!
Emma was predeceased by her parents, a brother, C. D. Brockman, Jr., and her husband, Curley Hamm.
Those left to cherish her memory are sons, Don Hamm and wife, Ann of WV, Roy Hamm and special friend, Teresa Herring, Hoyt Hamm and special friend, Theresa Massey and daughter, Patricia Carpenter and husband, Jim of Beaumont; sister, Bobbie Jean Latta of LaBelle; grandchildren, Jeff Hamm and wife, Kristine of TN, Brian Hamm and wife, Shawna of Highlands, Rebecca Watson and husband, Jason of KY, Elizabeth Coussou and husband, Bubba of Beaumont, Tom Hamm and wife, Leslie of WV, Chad Creagh of Houston, Melissa Hamm and partner, Stacy Esclovon of Groves and Renee' Soileau and special friend, Leland Kay of Denton.
Emma also leaves 12 great grandchildren, and many extended family and friends, all of whom she loved dearly.
Visitation will be Sunday from 3 to 6 at Claybar Kelley-Watkins Funeral Home in Beaumont. Services will be officiated by Pastor Brenda Warren on Monday at 2:00 p.m. at First Christian Church, 5290 N. Caldwood in Beaumont, with burial to follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park under the direction of Claybar Kelley-Watkins Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Jeff Hamm, Brian Hamm, Tom Hamm, Chad Creagh, Bubba Coussou and Jason Watson.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church or The Humane Society of Southeast Texas.