Emma Sue Graves-ElkinsMemphis, TNEmma Sue Graves-Elkins, 87, left her mortal life on November 2, 2016 to join her loved ones in afterlife. She was born on October 8, 1929 in the small town of Judsonia, Arkansas to Clarence A. Rogers and Hester Condry Rogers, but spent the majority of her youth growing up in Sulphur Springs, Arkansas near Pine Bluff. She was a graduate of Watson Chapel High School in Sulphur Springs and upon graduation received a beautician's license and began work in Pine Bluff as a beautician. In 1947 at the age of 18 she married long-time acquaintance Raymond Lee Graves, a veteran of World War II, who at the time was serving in the U.S. Navy. The newlyweds settled near the Millington Naval Base in Tennessee and Mrs. Graves-Elkins began work at Sears Crosstown as a shipping and records clerk. She worked there until the birth of her first child, Thomas Alan Graves in 1954 followed by the birth of her second child, Raymond Norris Graves in 1957. An active parishioner at several Baptist churches in Memphis, she was a member of Charjean Baptist Church, Oakville Memorial Baptist Church, Southland Baptist Church, and last Briarwood Baptist Church. In addition to raising her family and participating in church activities, Mrs. Graves-Elkins also was active in PTA in her children's schools and was a Den Mother in the Cub Scouts. Later in life, after the death of her beloved husband in 1980, Mrs. Graves-Elkins took cooking classes where she mastered the culinary art of cake decorating and she became widely known locally for her beautiful cake decorations. In 1994 she married Walter Elkins, who, like her, was raised in the Pine Bluff, Arkansas area. Mr. Elkins lived to be 100 years old and died in 2014. Mrs. Graves-Elkins is survived by her two sons; Thomas A. Graves and Raymond Norris Graves; her step-children, Betty Davis, Walter Elkins Jr., and Horace Elkins; her grandchildren, Allison Graves Buchanan, Caitlin Graves, and Mason Graves; her step-grandchildren, Beth Woods, Laura Lyles, Timothy Elkins, and Christy Williams; a great-grandchild, June Buchanan; and a loving caregiver, Jamie Allen. Her four brothers preceded her in death: William Smith, Benard Smith, Joe Rogers, and Glenn Rogers. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, November 3, 2015 at Forest Hill Funeral Home South. Funeral will be held Friday at 2:00 p.m. also at Forest Hill Funeral Home South at 2545 E. Holmes Road in Memphis. 901-346-3250