Emmie Jean Whaley

Emmie Jean Hudson Whaley was born on July 29, 1924 in Dallas, Texas. She was the youngest of seven children. Her mother, Emmie Mae Moore Hudson, born 1890 – died 1934 at age 44, was the daughter of Callie Moore. Her father, Samuel William Hudson, Sr., born 1877 – died 1972 at the age of 95, was the son of ex-slaves, Josiah and Jane Hudson. Her parents worked tirelessly to raise seven children; employing the right combinations of love, discipline and indulgence.

The loss of her mother at age ten was a seminal event she carried with her throughout her life. In fact, we believe it was that loss which inspired her passion for nurturing, inspiring others and caring – qualities which she displayed as a sister, cousin, aunt, wife, teacher, friend and mother. Her siblings did their best to fill the void when their mother passed. The oldest sister, Allie Mae, took on the role of mother to her younger siblings and older brother, Sam, Jr., assisted their father, who against all odds during the depression, managed to get all seven of his children through college. Emmie revered Allie Mae and Sam, Jr.; adored her sister Dorothy whom she often referred to as the sweetest person she knew; and gained confidence and strength from the sibling rivalry, high jinks, camaraderie and love of her next oldest siblings; Elsie, Jacob and Joe. Reading the many letters Emmie Jean wrote as a child reveals their bond. Though we close the chapter on these remarkable Hudson siblings today, their legacy lives on.

Emmie Jean was educated in the public schools of Dallas; the first being right next door to her home. She attended Booker T. Washington High School, and graduated in 1940. She received a BA Degree from Bishop College in Marshall, Texas. While attending college, she worked for four years as a typist in the Office of the President. She cherished her college days, having watched, listened to and written to her older siblings as they matriculated at Bishop. Joining her older brothers Jacob and Joe (who put her typing skills to good use on their term papers) was a special time in her life that established a deeper bond between them.

In 1944, Emmie Jean married Oliver Wendell Phillips, Jr. in Tuskegee, Alabama. From that union three children were born: Cecellia Jean; Oliver Wendell III; and Jacqueline Lynnette.

Her lifetime journey as a teacher began in Dallas at York Elementary School. Like many in her generation, "The Warmth of Other Suns" led her to migrate west from Dallas but not from the field of education; she continued to teach in Phoenix and then in Los Angeles where big sister Allie Mae and her family now resided. Allie Mae once again played the role of big sister and surrogate mother as Jacob, Joe and Emmie Jean, all eventually moved to Los Angeles, bringing their households to live with Allie Mae before they ventured out on their own. By the 1960's they all lived within five minutes of one another, with Jacob and Joe dropping by to check on their big and little sisters' households several times a week and each of them telephoning one another daily, sharing news from and reminiscing about home – family and old friends from the neighborhood and college. This family affair continued into the 21st Century.

Emmie Jean and Leon Whaley were married on June 17, 1964, uniting two families, numbering eight children, and they were a great loving unit for 36 years of marriage. She and Leon gained strength and support from one another as they built a life together, each dedicated to providing for their children separately and supporting one another in that task. A feminist before her time, she endeavored to be financially responsible for her three children so as not to burden Leon and insure that their aspirations and dreams would not be compromised. And her teaching role wasn't limited to nine to five; it was 24/7. Of course, consistent with the Hudson way, all three graduated from college. And as Leon's children went to college, married and had kids of their own, Emmie's bond with her stepchildren grew as she took on the loving role of step-grandmother. Having no grandchildren from her own children at this point, she grew closer to her stepchildren as she interacted as grandmother to their children. Finally, she was blessed with three grandchildren of her own and words cannot adequately describe the life lessons, influence, nurturing, love and passion for excellence she brought to their lives. Whether it was homework help, attending school events, being part of the travel team, offering unsolicited but sound advice, or managing the caregivers, Emmie Jean was there and in charge.

During her teaching career in Los Angeles, Emmie Jean served as a training teacher for USC, UCLA and USA Teacher Job Corps. She later coordinated Title I, Early Childhood Education, School Improvement and Bilingual Education programs. She retired from LAUSD in 1984.

Emmie Jean completed graduate study at Pepperdine University where she earned an MA Degree in Public Administration. Previous graduate work was taken at Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona in the field of education.

Emmie Jean believed there was something good and to be cultivated in all of her students; this abiding belief was the hallmark of her career, and she worked diligently to provide meaningful experiences and to bring out the best in all those students fortunate enough to call her teacher. She was involved in many community and volunteer projects including Chairman, Education Committee and Director of Girls Camp for United Christian Church; Advisory Committee Member, Friendship Day Camp, Camp Fire Girls and Woodcraft Rangers; Volunteer Assistant, Ethnic Family Camp; and Chairman of Education Committee, Women & Girls Workshop, Los Angeles City Human Relations Bureau.

Emmie Jean was a member of Crenshaw United Methodist Church. She also was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority; National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa; California Retired Teachers Association; and Friendly Educators.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leon Whaley, Sr.; her daughter, Cecellia Jean Simmons; and her six older siblings, Samuel Hudson, Jr., Allie Mae Jones, Dorothy Jones, Elsie Jackson, Jacob Hudson and Joe Hudson.

Left to cherish her memory are her son, Oliver Wendell Phillips, III; daughter, Jacqueline Phillips-Jackson; son-in-law, T. Warren Jackson; granddaughters, Lindsey and Lauren; grandson, Evan; sister-in-law, Doris Hudson; stepchildren (Leon, Jr. (deceased), Helen, Mattie, Elaine and Dorothy) and their children, her many nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.