Emma Lee Cox was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on March 11, 1930 to Morgan and Susie (nee Hill) Cox. She departed this life for her new one with the Lord on Monday, October 19, 2015. She was baptized at the early age at Second Baptist Church. 

Emma lived most of her life in Cincinnati, although she traveled internationally, most frequently to the African continent. She graduated in 1953 from Fisk University/Meharry Medical College with a Bachelor’s degree in nursing and later earned a Master’s degree in Health Administration from the University of Cincinnati. During her long nursing career, Emma held many positions, including nursing instructor at Meharry Medical College, Head Nurse at Cincinnati General Hospital’s obstetrics department, Nurse Manager for the Christ Church Clinic, public health nurse and school nurse for the City of Cincinnati. She was also an education coordinator for the Comprehensive Sickle Cell Program of Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Executive Director and a Board member of the Cincinnati Sickle Cell Awareness Group, as well as a Board member of the national awareness group. Emma remained an active member of local and state nursing associations. Emma was preceded in death by her mother Susie, father Morgan, sister Thelma (Rawls) and brothers Prince and Richard. She is survived by her brother Samuel, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. 

She was active in the civil rights movement, participating in marches in Southern states-most notably Dr. Martin Luther King’s Selma, Alabama march, and later the historic March on Washington. She continued to work for equal rights in Cincinnati throughout her life. She was an active member of CORE (Congress for Racial Equality) and Board member for the local NAACP, earning a Distinguished Service Award. 

Emma had many cultural and social interests including genealogy research and African-American history. She was an early pioneer in business investments in Africa, which furthered her work, with the Cincinnati Sister Cities program. She managed the Harriet Beecher Stowe Museum in Cincinnati, expanding its display of notable African Americans in Ohio history. Additionally, she sought to encourage African-American artists in Cincinnati by providing them opportunities to display their work at the Museum. 

Emma was a fervent believer in the value of education and always encouraged her nieces and nephews to seek higher learning opportunities. In her spare time, she enjoyed gardening, listening to jazz music, and reading autobiographies and history books. Emma was devoted to her family and the Cincinnati community. She will be greatly missed, but her family legacy and contribution to the community will live on.