Emma Armstrong was born on February 14, 1954, in DeFuniak Springs, FL to Sam and Mattie Cherry. The youngest of seven children, Emma didn’t have any other choice but to be well taken of and spoiled rotten by her parents and her siblings. Emma’s father was an Army Veteran; a Deacon of the church than later became an ordained minister. Her mother was a seamstress and a homemaker. Growing up as a child Emma was raised in the church where she loved to sing in the local church choir. Plus, also participating in an array of annual day church programs. At the age of eighteen Emma meet a young man from Florala, AL by the name of Edward Armstrong. On July 29, 1972 they got married after five months of dating. Emma attended Selma University where she earned an Associate Degree in General Studies. Then on September 11, 1976, Emma gave birth to a son named Derrick, which her mother raised temporarily so Emma could continue to pursue her collegiate studies. It was hard and at times challenging for her to leave her newborn baby to further pursue her education. Emma then transferred to Alabama State University where she earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education. In the summer of 1979, Emma got a job as a Special Education teacher at Samson Elementary and Middle School, where she taught there for four years. In the summer of 1983, she got hired on at Florala City School. Twenty-some-odd years later Florala City School become Florala Middle School. In 1994 Emma taught at not only the Middle School but at Florala High School and W.S. Harlan Elementary School in Lockhart, AL. Teaching at three school took a toll on Emma. But by the grace of God, she made it through. In 2007 Emma retired from school teaching. Emma hobbies include arts and crafts, sewing, and traveling. Emma was diagnosed with dementia in 2019. In November 2021 Emma moved to Enterprise, AL to live with her son, Derrick, where he took care of Emma and her husband In September 2023 Emma lost her husband due to natural causes. Emma was married to Edward for Fifty-One years. February 2024 Emma became a resident of Madison Heights. She loves the community and staff there.