Funeral services for Emma Lee Chapman will be held at 2:00 P.M., on Sunday, March 11, 2012, at First Baptist Church in Newton with Dr. Frank Harmon officiating. Burial will be in Hickory Cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 10, 2012 from 6:00 P.M. - 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home and on Sunday from 1:00 P.M. until 1:45 P.M. at the church.

Newton County Funeral Home South, 100 Old Highway 15 Loop, Newton, is in charge of arrangements. (601-683-2152)

Mrs. Chapman, 95, of Newton, died Tuesday, March 6, 2012, at her residence. She was a native of Newton County. She graduated from Newton High School in 1935. After finishing high school, she married Earl Chapman and became the typical farm wife. Later, she was employed at the Newton Company as the Personnel Manager for approximately 32 years. From her garden, she canned and froze produce which often took blue ribbons in competition. She was an excellent seamstress, making clothes for family and friends. When she modeled her clothes in competitions, she received top awards at the state level. She also produced beautiful needlepoint tapestries for her granddaughters. She was a member of the Home Demonstration Club, the Homemakers Club, and a 4 H Club Leader. She was faithful member of Newton First Baptist, where she was a member of the Dorcas Faith Sunday School Class, and the Triple L Club. She enjoyed traveling with various groups all over the United States, and abroad. She especially enjoyed reading and had a "green thumb" when tending to her flowers, plants, and yards. She was known for her compassion for others and her zest for life.

Survivors include: one daughter: Glenda Chapman (George) Moore of Marble Falls, TX; two daughters-in-law: Micky Rowley Chapman of Hattiesburg and Patricia Chapman May of The Villages, FL; grandchildren: Erin (Connor) Charles of Flower Mound, TX; Megan (Dr. Jim) Marlowe of Hattiesburg; Gretchen (Lt. Col. Stewart) Stephenson of Elizabethtown, KY; Brian Files of Houston, TX; Erica (Burt) Adams of Jackson Springs, NC; Christopher (Tina) Chapman of Birmingham, AL; Chad (Crystal) Chapman of Union; Justin (Cheryl) Chapman of Newton and great-grandchildren: Zoe, Olivia, & Ella Charles; Charlie & Sam Marlowe; Drew, Chloe, & Kady Chapman; Jamie, Wesley, & Ashlynn Chapman; two sisters-in-law: Angie Henn of Montrose, CO and Edith Sessums of Byram; special care givers: Sherry York, Kathy Loftin, and Renay Oliver.

She was preceded in death by her husband: Earl E. Chapman, Sr.; two sons: Lt. Col. Earl E. Chapman, Jr. and Robert Wayne Chapman; and her parents: Roy and Sarah Cleveland Thornton; and her beloved cat, Missy.

Pallbearers will be Chris Chapman, Chad Chapman, Justin Chapman, Burt Adams, Dr. Jim Marlowe, Lt. Colonel Stewart Stephenson, and Connor Charles.

Honorary Pallbearers will be George Moore, Andy Armstrong, Mike Strebeck, Will McMillan, Mark Killens, Marion Felton, and Martin Carroll.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Gideons International Inc., P.O. Box 297, Newton, MS 39345, or the Alzheimers Association – Mississippi Chapter, 196 Charmant Drive, Ste 4, Ridgeland, MS 39157