Emma Q. Gentle, formerly Emma Rue Quattlebaum, 88, of Hoover, peacefully slipped from her earthly life into eternal life Jan. 9 at her home.

She had struggled with pancreatic cancer.

Emma was born in Cullman County on May 10, 1927. She grew up on a cotton farm in Hanceville, attending Hanceville High School where she was valedictorian.

She graduated from Sacred Heart College in Cullman in 1948.

She met her late husband of 62 years, Alfred “Al” F. Gentle Sr., while working at Alabama Gas, and they married in Birmingham in 1951.

Al and Emma raised their four children in Atlanta, Ga. where Al retired from Southern Bell.

Emma was a loving, sweet and compassionate woman who was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Emma often said her greatest achievement in life was raising four healthy, loving children.

Emma loved fashion and enjoyed sewing, painting, and working with the Girl Scouts as a leader.

She retired from Sears in Atlanta. She was an avid supporter of Auburn University, the alma mater of her late husband.

Emma and Al travelled the U.S. and the world, visiting several dozen countries.

Emma was an active member of St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, Hoover, and Hoover Senior Center’s choral group, The Songbirds.

Emma was preceded in death by her husband, Alfred Fernandez Gentle, Sr.; her parents, Cordelia Hines Quattlebaum and Samuel Oscar Quattlebaum; three brothers, Cecil Quattlebaum, Russell Quattlebaum and Dr. W.C. Quattlebaum; and two sisters, Eloise Gibbs and Hazel Chappell.

Survivors include three daughters, E. Renee Gentle Powers (Tom) of Clanton, Anita Gentle Newcomb of Columbia, Md., and Nancy Gentle Boudrie (John Montgomery) of Exton, Pa.; one son, Alfred F. Gentle, Jr. (Karen) of Columbia, Md.; seven grandchildren, Samuel Powers (Alicia) of Greenville, S.C. and Russell Powers (Melissa) of Helena, Rachel Newcomb of Houston, Texas, Rebecca Gentle of Portland, Ore., Michelle Gentle of Chicago, Ill., and Emma and Reid Boudrie of Exton, Pa.; and four great-grandchildren, Cole and Luke Powers and Logan and Summer Diane Powers.

Visitation will be Jan. 14 from 10-11 a.m. at St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church, 2061 Patton Chapel Road, Birmingham, AL 35216.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at the church at 11 a.m. Jan. 14.

Interment at Southern Heritage Cemetery, 475 Cahaba Valley Road, Pelham, AL 35124 will immediately follow.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675, www.woundedwarriorproject.org. Please indicate that each gift is in honor of Emma Gentle, 8105 Sea Light Lane, Columbia, MD 21045.