Emma Rebecca (Gaston) Sloan

    Emma Rebecca Gaston Sloan was born on September 3, 1919 to Will and Sarah Culp Gaston. She was the fifth child of thirteen and is the last remaining child. She departed this earthly life on December 25th, 2021, for a better one. She is preceded in death by: her parents, her husband - Stanley Sloan Sr. her son - Stanley Sloan Jr. and her daughter-Joanne Sloan Johnson.

     She received her education at Smithville school in Cornelius, N.C. and graduated from Torrence Lytle High School in 1939.

    She was united in matrimony to Stanley Sloan in September 1940. To this union four children were born. Sometime later, they took in two nieces and a nephew and raised them as their own. She helped raise and care for many of her nieces and nephews, some of them moving into their home for varied amounts of time. She dearly loved her family and her family loved her. To them, she was known by many names, Mother, MaEmma, Muh and Bec. 

    To help care for her family, she has always worked. She started her professional career at Huntersville Hospital. She also worked for Mecklenburg County schools, several Dry Cleaning companies, and other jobs. She was a Homemaker and Entrepreneur. She retired from the Huntersville Oaks Hospital.

    As a child, she joined and was baptized in the AME Zion church. After she married, she joined Huntersville Presbyterian church, which is now New Friendship Presbyterian Church. She worked tirelessly in the church. She was over the young adult Usher Board and a member of the Missionary Circle. She was also a Deacon and the first woman Elder at the church.

    Ms. Emma, as she was affectionately called, was a loving, compassionate, nurturing and selfless woman, led by her Christian faith. She loved helping and doing for others. If someone had a need, she was there to help out in whatever capacity was needed.  She often put the needs of others before her own. Her neighborhood and community were very important to her. She was very involved in many community organizations and was often a founding member. These included the Huntersville Bible Club, the Homemakers Club, the Golden Peacemakers Club and her beloved Senior Citizens Club. Because there were no organized sports for girls in the early 70s, she formed and coached a local girls softball team, piling them in the bed of her truck and traveling all over the county to play. She is most affectionately known as the “Snowball Lady”. For over 60 years, she and her children, then grandchildren, would travel throughout the neighborhoods in Huntersville and surrounding areas selling snowballs.

    She leaves to cherish her memory, her daughters: Bettye Phillips of Huntersville, NC, Sallie Brown, Mary Sloan and Mazella McDowell of Charlotte, NC. Grandchildren: Ragina Phillips (Houston, TX), Thomasenia Phillips, Raymond Phillips Jr, (Huntersville, NC) Perry Brown, Jason Phillips (Montina), Timothy Johnson, Michael Johnson, Kimberly Johnson, Debra Cherry, Denise McDowell and Mimi Rogers (Charlotte, NC): 19 Great Grandchildren, 16 Great-Great Grandchildren, Sister-in-Law: Pauline Gaston (Virginia Beach, VA) and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives.

    MaEmma, Ms. Emma, Muh, Mother or Mrs. Sloan, whatever name you knew her by, loved everyone and everyone loved her. Anyone who spoke with her automatically became a friend. No matter who you were, where you’d been or what you’d done, she believed everyone deserved kindness, love and respect. 

When you think of her, don’t let it be with sadness. Remember her for her joyous spirit, her wonderful sense of humor, her great love of people and life, her dutifulness, and her humility. Perhaps, these were her secrets to such a long life.

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