Marshalls were needed to help with
the parade in 2018, my dad ‘voluntold’
me,” she laughed. It was a natural
step for Emma to fill the leadership
role as Marshall Coordinator when the
position became vacant.
Coming alongside her mom, Ann
Owens, a long-time member of the
Downtown Vidalia Association (DVA),
Emma became a member herself in
2019. She helps promote businesses
that are members of the DVA by
holding fun events like the “Chocolate
Walk” held annually in February.
“All of the participating businesses
make different chocolate treats,” said
Emma. “There will be everything
from brownies to chocolate martinis.
You buy a ticket, and at each store
you go in to sample a treat, your
card is punched.” During the event,
stores also offer special discounts for
customers to enjoy. “At the end of the
day, the punched cards are entered
into a drawing to win DVA Bucks,
which can then be used just like
money at any of the downtown DVA
member stores.”
Emma's most recent community
outreach event is an infertility
support group she's named “Women
in Waiting.” “After I had the idea to
start Women in Waiting, I asked a
dear friend of mine, Abby (Stanley)
Adams, to co-lead the group with me.
Together, we plan events, provide
food, and pray with and for our
ladies.” She held her first gathering
in September 2020. For almost three
years, Emma and her husband Chris
have been hoping to get pregnant,
which has been made more difficult
because of a condition called PCOS
(polycystic ovarian syndrome). Even
though it is prevalent and usually
responds well to treatment, Emma
and Chris have been through two
early miscarriages.
“Infertility is something that
we think is taboo to talk about for
some reason,” she said. “Everybody
is okay to keep it as private as they
want. But I have always found value in
community, and I need people to lean
on. I couldn't find that, so I decided,
‘Then I’m going to bring all you people
to me.’” She started with a bold post
on Facebook:
If you (or anyone you know)
have been waiting on God’s
timing to grow your family, we
want to invite you to join our
Facebook group. We want to
laugh, cry, and celebrate with
you as we all learn how to wait
together. This journey is hard
and can feel lonely, but we
know it's not meant to be that
way. We have a couple planned
events coming up, and I don’t
want anyone from our area to
miss out on them!
As soon as her message was posted,
women began responding from
communities all around. This past
Mother’s Day, which is one of the
most difficult for women struggling
with infertility, Emma held her second
annual Women in Waiting “Mother’s
Day Brunch.” Recently, the group
began a three-week Bible study from
the book of Habakkuk. While in the
wait, Emma and her new friends
continue to encourage one another
with scriptures and personal stories.
“For anyone interested in joining
them or for more information, go to
the ‘Women in Waiting’ Facebook
support group page and simply ask
to join. They can also email me at:
ekhamilton1231@gmail.com.”
There’s no shortage of people
these days who want to tell our
children that being a leader means
rejecting their parents’ morals. That
a child should think for themselves,
all the while telling our children
what to think. There’s no magic
formula for raising children with
discernment. There’s no class to send
them to that will ensure they honor
the history of a town or care for the
community. Contrary to the common
belief that the better the leader, the
more followers, leadership is not
about numbers or titles or accolades.
Leadership is about personal choices.
Paul told the Corinthians, “Follow me,
as I follow Christ” (MEV 1 Corinthians
11:1). Whether Emma is leading
Christmas floats or Bible studies, it’s
with a discerning heart. And that is
what makes this young professional
woman in our community a true
leader.
104 TOOMBS COUNTY MAGAZINE
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