Emma Ada TATUM

Submitted by Descendants:  Anna Rae and Laura Ruth Jones MILLER

Emma Ada Tatum was born in Sumter County, Georgia on June 25, 1860.  She was listed with her parents, Orris Tatum and Sarah (Harp), on the 1870 Sumter County census as a 9 year old girl.  Her father, Orris Tatum had served during the Civil War with the Sumter County Flying Artillery unit for the Confederate States of America.

Emma grew to womanhood and married Needham Franklin Bass in Sumter County, Georgia.  Their daughter Rosa was born in Americus, Georgia on November 30, 1881.

The young family soon moved to Florida in the area now designated as Osceola County.  Here, their family increased.  On the 1885 Florida State Census for Orange County another daughter, Lanna,a ge 1 year old was listed as being born in Florida.  Later the family would add a son, Orris “Jack” Bass.

Emma was a hard working mother.  She also helped her daughter, Rosa, with her large family.  She became “Other Mama” to Rosa’s children.

“Other Mama” died January 17, 1939 and was buried next to her husband, N. F. (Frank) Bass, in Rose Hill Cemetery in Kissimmee, Florida.

Emma Ada Tatum was first established as a Florida Pioneer in 2004