Emma Ann Graves

On January 5, 2026 our Lord and Savior called home one of his daughters, Emma Ann Miles Graves. Emma Ann was born to the late Rufus Miles Sr and the late Odessa Elizabeth Love Miles on May 30, 1937. Out of three children born to the union, she was the only daughter.

Emma Ann gained her education through the Caswell County School System. During her high school years, a close friend Mary Lou Yellock matched her up with Walter Graves, Sr. After three years of courtship, the two married. Emma Ann often shared her wedding night meal consisted of going back to her parents' home and having a dinner of herring fish.

Her walk with the Lord began when she was baptized and joined Beulah Baptist Church at an early age. She served on the Usher Board, Beulah Mixed Choir, Sweet Gum Community Charity Club and the Beulah Baptist Deaconess Board.

Emma Ann's career consisted of Burl-Craft where she worked in textiles. After Burl-Craft closed down she found employment at Burlington Industries Pioneer Plant I where she worked for 30 years until her retirement. She formed many lifetime friendships through her time there.

Emma Ann was known for her cooking and baking. She and Walter Sr better known as W.G., entertained the family many Christmases. It was nothing for them to open their home on Christmas Day to 30 to 40 people. Even though her girls offered to help, lots of times Emma Ann cooked the whole meal single handedly. She knew how to take a little and make it stretch. She knew if she could fill a person's belly, she was showing them how much she loved them. On special occasions, Emma would assist the Beulah Baptist Church kitchen committee if requested.

When she was able, Emma was also known in her community for her cakes. While she was at Burlington Industries, many would buy a cake from Mrs. Emma Ann. She enjoyed baking and found that people would pay for "good" cake. This is how she would make her side money. Her top sellers were her German Chocolate, Brown Sugar Pound, Fresh Coconut Layer cake and Pineapple Layer cake.

Emma believed in raising a family according to the Lord's teachings. She taught her children about raising their children in the admonition of the Lord. She often talked about living the life before your children you want them to live.

Preceding her in death were her parents Odessa E. Love Miles and Rufus Miles, Sr. and her brothers Rufus Miles, Jr and Coston Fountain Miles. She had also endured the loss of her youngest son Sammuel Davis Graves and husband Walter Graves, Sr.

Emma leaves to carry on her legacy: Faye Rone (Melvin), Melinda Johnson (Jerry), Walter G. Graves, Jr. (Carolyn) and Anita Burton (Michael Todd), 12 grandchildren, a host of great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends. Emma will be greatly missed by her cousins who loved her like a sibling - Ralph Miles and Brenda Mae Enoch.