Emma Ulrich Ridgeway

Emma Ulrich Ridgeway, 85, of Aiken, SC passed away Thursday, February 3, 2022 surrounded by her family.

Emma was born March 17, 1936 to Nelson and Emma Jerrell Ulrich in National Park, NJ.

She graduated in 1954 from Barnwell High School. Emma married her high school sweetheart and husband of 65 years, Jack, in 1956.

After Emma and Jack married they moved to Jacksonville, FL where they began their family, raising two beautiful daughters, Kathy and Jackie. They later moved along the Gulf Coast before settling down in Aiken, SC, where Emma worked as an optometric technician until retiring in 2006.

During Emma’s time at Barnwell High, she helped lead her team to the high school basketball State Championship in 1954. Emma loved being a Mom, a Mawmaw, and a great Mawmaw. She enjoyed dancing, attempting to teach others how to dance, soaking up rays on a beach anywhere, and spending time with family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Of course, her most time-consuming hobby was keeping Jack straight (or trying to, at least). Emma was also a proud member of the Jehovah’s Witness congregation.

Those left to remember Emma are her daughters, Kathy (Rene) de Llacer of Vancleave, MS; and Jackie Stone of Aiken, SC; her grandchildren Cameron Stone, Kellen Stone, Kyle de Llacer, Chelsea (Chandler) Martin, and Skylar (Robbie) Hudson; her great grandchildren, Kruz de Llacer, Rigg and Ripp Hudson, and Eleanor, Harper, and Heyward Martin; and her beloved dog, Sippi.

Emma is preceded in death by her husband, Jack Ridgeway; her parents, Nelson L Ulrich and Emma Jerrell Ulrich; her sister, Nelsa Ulrich Brannon; and her son in law, Robert Stone.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to the Alzheimer’s Association (https://act.alz.org/donate) or the American Heart Association (https://www.heart.org). 

The family will receive friends from 4:00-6:00 PM Saturday, February 5, 2022 at Shellhouse Funeral Home on Hayne Ave.

Graveside funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Saturday, February 12 in Machpelah Cemetery in Pascagoula, MS.

SHELLHOUSE FUNERAL HOME, INC., 924 HAYNE AVE., AIKEN, SC 29801