"Grandmothers are a gift not to be taken lightly. So many lose them, before they are old enough to know their magic." – Nikita Gill

Mattie Emaline Burks Seay Abernathy (Emma) of Tulsa Oklahoma left this earth on January 5, 1983 at age 81 years, 1 month, 13 days surrounded by family.

Emma was born November 23, 1901 in Hot Springs, Garland County, Arkansas.

Those who preceded her in death, parents Algi Lee Burks and Teresa Pearl Epperly. spouses Wootson Seay and Walter Abernathy. Daughter Jewel Dean Seay, son Lenuel Earl Seay and daughter in law Evelyn Sue Goodall Seay. Half siblings Zadie Mendenhall Mullins, and Zach Mendenhall.

Emma's father Algi Lee Burks left the family home when she and her sister Anna Mabel were very young. Their mother re married John Mendenhall and of that marriage produced several half siblings.

Emma and Mabel moved to Gilkey, Yell County, Arkansas around 1908 where their maternal grandparents lived on a small farm. Emma told the story of how she and her sister came to live with their grandparent's Zachariah and Martha (Mat) Coe Epperly. The grandparents farm was on a hill, their mom and John lived not far down the hill. During a visit the weather turned bad. As they were headed home Emma fell and hurt herself on some ice. Her grandparents decided they both needed to stay until the weather cleared. By the time spring came around they decided to stay permanently. Emma was named after her grandmother Martha whom everyone called Mat.

Emma married Claudie Wootson Seay in Yell County, Arkansas on March 17, 1921. The Seay and Epperly families were neighbors and had bible studies together.

Wootson traveled all around the states picking fruit or any seasonal crops . He also drove a taxi. Wootson passed on August 10, 1956 of Tuberculosis.

Emma married Walter Reeves "Walt" Abernathy in 1951 in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Not long after Emma and Walt moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma with Emma's youngest daughter Junea Lee Seay.

Those left behind to mourn the loss include son Clifford Lenard Seay; daughter Junea Lee Seay Plummer; step-daughter Betty Lynn Abernathy Simmons; and step-sons Walter Reeves Abernathy Jr., and James Allen Abernathy. Sister Anna Mabel Hannah, several Grandchildren and great-grandchildren.