Remembering Emma Hinesley

Emma Hinesley has passed away. A stalwart in may Georgia Republican organizations, she was a past President of the Georgia Federation of Republican Women among her many other titles and organizational affiliations.

I had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Emma in the 90’s, when I was part of the Fayette County GOP. She lived in Coweta, the next county over, but was plugged in to politics throughout the state. These were the days when Republicans were still full of optimism but short of legislative majorities, had few constitutional offices, and needed to be on a tour to see the inside of the Governor’s mansion.

It was not uncommon then, or even more recently, to be at a GOP event and be in mid conversation with someone and realize that someone had taken my arm. Before I could turn and look (and later I didn’t need to look in order to know who it was), I would hear a distinctive voice with a trademark drawl say into my ear “We need to talk”.

Emma wasn’t shy about letting people know what she thought they needed to know, and she new how to work a political organization, top to bottom. She had vision and an agenda, and the fortitude to see them through.

She would frequently tell stories of when the GOP was even much smaller. If I recall the correctly, the first time she requested a Republican ballot in Coweta County in the mid-sixties, she was told they didn’t have any. Lacking the qualities of a shrinking violet, she held firm, made a few allusions to bringing in law enforcement to help them “find” the GOP ballots, and amazingly they appeared shortly thereafter.

Times have changed, and a lot of newer Republicans may take their majorities and the road that was taken to earn them for granted. Today we all stand on the shoulders of a small group of determined people like Emma Hinesley that knew how to play the long game, and did it one person at a time.

Her complete obituary and funeral arrangements are as follows:

Emma Lloyd Norton Hinesley, age 81, passed away Wednesday, August 7, 2019 at Piedmont Newnan Hospital surrounded by family. She was born on December 6, 1937 in Louisville, AL. 

She is preceded in death by her husband, Edward Lee Hinesley; sisters, Joycelyn Hurley and Betty Hurley. She is survived by her children, Eddie Hinesley, Lee Hinesley; grandchildren, Tyler Hinesley, Grant Hinesley and Katelyn Hinesley. Emma was very active in the Georgia Federation  of Republican Women for many years,  becoming GFRW President 1998-2001. 
Emma was also very active and the “go to” person for the Georgia GOP. 
She worked on numerous campaigns and was well respected and loved by many. 

The memorial service celebrating Emma’s 
life will be    Saturday, August 10, 2019  4:00 PM   

McKoon Funeral Home Chapel 
38 Jackson Street 
Newnan, GA 30263 
Directions

Rev. Jim Hearn will officiate. The family will receive friends on Saturday from 2 PM until service at the funeral home. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made in Emma’s name to Georgia Baptist Children’s Home, P.O. Box 329, Palmetto, GA 30268. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.mckoon.com.