Mrs. Barnes was a lifelong member of Rehoboth Baptist Church.  After earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics from Tuskegee University in 1959, she owned and operated Barnes Groceries & Café for more than 30 years. In 1998, Emma was honored by the City of Valley with its Black History Month Commemoration for her dedication to community improvement.

Her survivors include: her devoted daughter, Zelda LaFaye W. (Napoleon) Patterson; one granddaughter, Jolanda Barnes; three grandsons, Jemareo Barnes, Jacobie Barnes and Jeremy Barnes; two sisters, Mae Julia Booker and Charlene (Sanford) Isom; one brother, Bobby (Yvonne) Booker; three great-grandsons; one great-granddaughter; sisters-in-law, Mary (Durance) Britt, Ethel (John) Ruth and Janie Barnes; former sister-in-law and caregiver, Linda Booker; godson, Bernard Williams; goddaughter, Sharon Heard; and, a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, other loving relatives and friends including special friends, Louise Walker, Daisy Patton, Maggie Morris and Jackie Vines.