Emma Julian

Number 11 of 13 children, Emma Grace Hartsell Julian, also known as Techno-Mom, was the most beautiful and smartest of all her siblings. Her life spanned decades of American innovation, and she thrived on the cutting edge.

Although she had an idyllic youth on a 75 acre farm where she milked cows, climbed trees, churned butter, picked cotton, helped her father collect honey, and pumped the bellows as he sharpened the plows, she thrived in school. Beginning in a one room school housing seven grades, her aptitude was noticed by an anonymous benefactor who paid her college tuition. While studying organic chemistry, she met her handsome prince and went against the prevailing culture by marrying a Cuban. Within six years they had five beautiful children. From her union the world has engineers, entrepreneurs, teachers, writers, artists, a social worker, lawyer, funeral director, manager, computer scientists, nurses, and more.

Emma Grace continued to break boundaries by working outside the home in a multiplicity of professional positions, among which she taught clinical chemistry, moved to Augusta and set up the Pharmacology lab in Fort Gordon, and was an Industrial hygienist at CDC. She retired professionally in her seventies, yet didn't retire from life. She remained instrumental in the lives of all her grandchildren in every stage, even housing her namesake as she went to college.

As she grew older, her intelligence shone as she made witty quips while walking through her neighborhood. Lovely and lively, she remained smart and strong for 94 years and went to heaven in less than two weeks after a weekend in the hospital. She would encourage all to join her in heaven by joining their hearts to Jesus as their Lord.

She was the last of her generation, outliving her dear husband of 58 years, Alfredo Julian, every sibling, and most nieces and nephews. She is survived by her son: Alfredo "Fred" Julian (Monica Santos), daughters: Maria Gosa, Jennifer Allen (Charlton), Caroline Cranfill (Andy), Amanda Cranford (Bobby); grandchildren: Sam (Sarah), Elizabeth (Megan), Miriam, Georganna (Will), Emma (Carson), Stephanie, Hannah, Luke, Seth; and great-grandchildren: Thomas, Havana, Gemma, and Olive; nephew Billy Hicks, niece Barbara Ledbetter, and many more loving friends.