Mrs. Emma Jean Gayle McDonald transitioned to her heavenly home on Tuesday, March 8, 2016. Her life began in Alabama on December 19, 1938 to Wiley Richard and Annie Lee Gayle. Emma would help her father work in the field and fought many battles for her sisters and brothers…thus begin her ministry of helping others. She received her formal education in the Jefferson County School System, attending Muscoda Community School and Muscoda Junior High School. She graduated from Wenonah High School, "Class of 1957" and was the recipient of a scholarship to Miles College, where she studied for one year.
Emma traveled to several cities before settling in Syracuse with her Aunt Mattie Street; where she was a resident for 57 years. She met and married a handsome young man from Birmingham, Alabama, Adolphus, and they were the parents of six beautiful children. She worked many years at Crouse Hospital as a Pediatric Nurse Assistant. In 1981, she asked her husband if she could retire from Crouse in order to begin full-time volunteer efforts, as her last child was set to graduate in 1982. Emma volunteered at Upstate University Hospital, Community General, Tops Police trailer, Syracuse Public Schools - reading to first and second graders at Dr. King School, the Franziska Racker Center (Cortland) - reading to preschoolers, and several other organizations. If you knew Emma, you know that she loved her church, Hopps Memorial CME, and was a member for many years. She served in the church ministry as Director of the Children's Choir - "God's Little Soldiers", Director of the Male Chorus, Sunday School Teacher (the children knew Mrs. Emma don't play - her disciplinary measures were firm and loving); and she played a crucial role in the launch of the soup kitchen in 1979 serving community members hot meals in a brown paper bag. Helping others was truly her life passion and a major part of "Her Journey".
She loved the Lord as her family roots were deep in the things of God; and exemplified in her giving spirit. She was an active and supportive member of her home church, the Greater Fourteenth Street Missionary Baptist Church, Bessemer, Alabama. (Her son-in-law was the pastor, 2009 - 2013). Emma received many honors and awards as a result of her Spirit of giving and service to her church and community. Awarded "Mr. & Mrs. Hopps 1992", Lay Ministry Council recognition for "Tireless Dedication and Commitment to Church, Family and Community", Hopps Lay of the Year (2001). The Syracuse Federation of Women's Clubs Woman of Achievement in Religion (1985), Urban League of Onondaga County "Family of the Year" (1988), Syracuse Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority "Marjorie Dowdell Fortitude Award" (1992), Outstanding Service and Dedication to the Dunbar Association and Community (1993), Office For Aging Senior Citizen of the Year for Onondaga County (1996), Bethel Community C.O.G.I.C. "Woman of Excellence Award" (1997). Center for Community Alternatives-Onondaga CASA Program "Light of Hope Award" (2004), Appreciation for her significant service on the HOSPICE of Central NY Board of Directors (2004-2010), Henry Moore Workgroup "Appreciation for Ongoing Dedication, Commitment and Wise Counsel (2005), and the Syracuse Postal Diversity Committee "For All That You Do" Award (2005). She was profiled in a feature article entitled "Cancer has made me grow" (The Stand, September 2012)

As a member of the Syracuse Chapter of the Gospel Music Workshop of America, she was captured in a news article singing "Let My People Go" at the Jewish Music and Cultural Festival.
She traveled across the United States, mostly to care for family members when ill; but truly enjoyed her "Sister Trips" with Mattie, Annie, Lenora and sometimes Yvonne and Sherry. She took the trip of her lifetime to the Mother Land of Africa - South Africa to present clothes and toiletries to several orphanages. She was also very passionate about capturing EVERY occasion with taking pictures, pictures and more pictures. "AMAN" as Emma would say. One of her favorite things was bowling and she made this statement. "I love bowling. Prior to having surgery I used to be in a league. Just being able to enjoy a night with friends and laughing is priceless."
She was preceded in death by her father, Wiley Richard Gayle (1964), mother, Annie Lee Gayle (2001), husband, Adolphus McDonald (2004), mother-in-law, Fannie Mae Allen McDonald (2010), father-in-law, Otto McDonald, Jr. (1978), sister-in-law, Artrice Jean Vire (1981), and son-in-law, Reverend Stanley Allen Brown (2013).
Emma leaves to cherish her memory, Four Daughters, Yolanda Gayle Brown of Bessemer, Alabama, Karen (Dexter) Marston of Columbus, Ohio, Charlene McDonald of Syracuse, Darlene McDonald of Dryden, New York; Two Sons, Bennie Duane McDonald of Syracuse, Adolphus (Pamela) McDonald, Jr. of Madison, Alabama; Three Sisters; Mattie Rice of Toledo, Ohio, Annie (Eugene) Wilson of Culver City, California, Lenora (Earl) Barry of Toledo, Ohio; Two Brothers, Charlie (Esther) Gayle of Davenport, Florida, Christopher (Yvonne) Gayle of Toledo, Ohio. Ten Grandchildren, Marcus Antoino (Christine Wehrle) McDonald, Christina Darlene (Maurice) Walker, Chelsea (Jamal) McDonald-Felder, Seatrion Eutsay, Denzel Duane Scott, Allen Randall Brown, Allencia Gabrielle Brown, Adolphus Austin McDonald, III, Clifford Jordan Hackworth, Adolphus Hiram Zachariah Hackworth. Nine Great Grandchildren, Jordan Alexis Wehrle, William Kain McDonald, D'Markai Drake McDonald, Tristian Felder, Ava Felder, Madison Rae Brown, Miles Langston Brown, Aiden Chase Walker, Saide Eutsay; Five Sisters-in-law, Claranetta Long, Beatrice McIntyre, Sherrill (Clayton) Baker, Antoinette (Rick) Nelson, Linda (Ernest) Wynn all of Syracuse, Brother-in-law, Otto (Maxine) McDonald of Syracuse; many nieces, nephews, cousins; Two God Children, Kyla Clark of Laurel, Maryland, Erika (Rufus) Wynn-Kearse of Syracuse; Four adopted God Children, Latona (Velton) Howard-Sterling, Morgan (Lawrence) Drummer-Upchurch, Jalaya Gibson of Plano, Texas, and Marilyn Batchelor, Los Angeles, California; special sister-neighbor, Lula (Lewis) Davis of Syracuse; Clifford Hackworth of Dryden, New York; and several special friends.
Public Visitation with the Family present will be held Tuesday, March 15, 10 to 11:30 a.m. and Celebration of life service at noon at Hopps Memorial CME Church, 1110 S. State St; Syracuse, NY. Interment will follow in Oakwood Cemetery.  Obituary