Sister Emma Lee China James, affectionately known as " Blossom ", was born October 5, 1925 in Sumter County to the late Mr. James and Mrs. Carrie China.  She was united in holy matrimony to the late Mr. Prince James for 33 years.  She transitioned peacefully on Sunday, November 4, 2018, at Roper Hospice Cottage in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina at the blessed age of 93.

She was educated in the public schools of Sumter, South Carolina.  She worked for many years as a housekeeper for several prominent families within the Sumter community.  Her greatest joy was taking care of her family—cooking, sewing and baking. Her family thoroughly enjoyed her homemade biscuits, pound cake, and sweet potato pies.

In addition to the love of baking, her hobbies included watching various soap operas.  Her favorite sport was baseball and she was an avid fan of the Atlanta Braves.  When not watching television, her favorite pastime was reading and solving word-puzzle books.

She had an unwavering faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.   She was a lifelong member of Beulah AME Church, where she worked faithfully in many ministries and auxiliaries until her health began to fail.  She was a member of the Senior Steward Board, the Women's Missionary Society, the Lay Organization, the Church School Department and her pride and joy, the Senior Choir.

She leaves to cherish fond and precious memories; one daughter: Emma J. Dunham of Summerville, SC; two sons: Sammie L. (Gloria) James of Sumter, SC, and Earl (Dale) China of Spring, TX; four grandchildren: Tammy China of Maplewood, NJ, Kimberly Dunham of Summerville, SC, Alayna China of Spring, TX, and Sharmoney Johnson of Sumter, SC; five great-grandchildren: Bryce Dean of Terre Haute, IN, Zachary China of Spring, TX, Dalexus Dingle, and Stacionna and Dalashia Brunson of Sumter, SC;  two brothers: Elton China of Sumter, SC and Frank (Ruth) China of Bethlehem, PA;  three sisters: Everlena (Marvin) Benson of Hampton, GA, Ethel China of Orange, NJ, and Agnes China of Easton, PA; a stepdaughter: Sadie Evans of Baltimore, MD; a devoted sister-in-law: Sarah China of Sumter, SC; a godson: Isaac McDowell, Jr. of Charlotte, NC, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, a son, Prince, Jr., three brothers:   Henry Lee China, Leo China, Sylvester China; and a sister, Lila Mae China Dantzler.