Obituary of Emmerle Ward London
Emmerle "Emily" Ward London, born on December 15, 1946, in Harlem Hospital, New York, passed away peacefully on July 13, 2024. Emily was the beloved daughter of Belle Hudson and John Ward.
Due to her mother’s illness, Emily and her siblings, Arone, Bessie and John, were placed in foster care. Emily and her sister Bessie were fortunate to be adopted together by the Tinison family, who resided in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn.
In her younger years growing up in Bed Stuy, Emily was an active member of Bridge Street Church where she sang in the church choir and was an alter girl. Emily attended Eastern District High School, from which she graduated before starting work in a factory. Upon aging out of the foster care system, Emily decided that factory work was not her calling. She enrolled in typing classes at the local YMCA, which marked the beginning of her career as a typist. Her skills and dedication led her to transition into word processing.
In the late 60s, while living on Dean Street in Brooklyn, Emily met Fred London Jr. Although initially unimpressed, Emily found Fred's humor irresistible when he joked, "You see that light pole up there? Your nose is stuck up like that light pole." This lighthearted comment sparked their relationship, and they soon began dating. Fred and Emily were together for many years before she gave birth to their first daughter, Tondalaya London, followed by their second child, Mackise London. Fred and Emily were married for over 40 years until Fred peacefully passed away in 2008.
Emily's career took a significant turn when she joined the banking industry as a word processor. Her hard work and determination earned her a position within the legal department of Republic National Bank, where she eventually rose to become a legal secretary.
Emily found pleasure in the simple things in life, such as shopping. She was an avid shopper and enjoyed dancing. Emily loved attending parties, socializing, and meeting new people. Her vibrant personality and zest for life were evident to all who knew her.
Emily is survived by her daughter, Tondalaya London, her son, Mackise London, son-in-law Jeter Jones, grandson Teron Davy, granddaughter Nasirah Sky Colding her cousin Sharon Roberts. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law Ruby London and Odessa Figueroa, along with a host of nieces and nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews and friends.
Emily is preceded in death by her sisters Arone and Bessie Ward, her brother John Ward, her husband, Fred London Jr. her brothers-in-law James London and Harvey Foulks and nephew Barsheen Ward.
Emily's journey is a testament to her resilience and determination. She will be remembered for her tenacity, her dedication to her work, and her ability to overcome adversity. She will be deeply missed but forever remembered in the hearts of those she touched.
God looked around the garden and found an empty space.
He looked down upon the earth and saw your tired face.
He put his arms around you, and lifted you to rest.
God's garden must be beautiful for he only takes the best.
He knew that you were weary, and he knew you were in pain.
He knew that you would never, be well on earth again.
He saw the roads were getting rough, and the hills were hard to climb.
So he closed your weary eyelids, and whispered peace be thine.
Memorial Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 10 from 2:00 - 7:00 PM at Marine Park Funeral Home, 3024 Quentin Road, Brooklyn.
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