Elma was born April 6, 1939 to Mr. and Mrs. Thad Turner.   She married L.C. Pirtle on December 1, 1962.   She has one daughter, Carol and 2 grandsons, Darius and CaDareun Pirtle.  

She worked with the Haywood County General Sessions and Circuit Court for twenty-seven years, four of the years she was the Clerk.