Miss Emma Belle (E. Clas) Latimer was born September 24, 1926, in Toccoa Georgia, the sixth child for John Newton Franklin Latimer, M.D. and the first child, in their Union, for Troas C. Lewis Latimer, a teacher. Dr. Latimer practiced throughout the South and the family moved to Atlanta Georgia. Emma Belle, gifted from birth, played her first piano recital, age eight, at the State Teachers and Agricultural College in Forsyth Georgia. Many church and community requests to play, came forth. It was then that Emma Belle wanted to be "the Marian Anderson of the Piano".
Emma Belle graduated from Booker T. Washington High School and went on to attend Howard University. She pledged the Alpha Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and received her Bachelor of Music degree. At some point the family moved to Albany Georgia, where Emma Belle, Dr. Jeanne Noble plus several other Deltas formed the Gamma Psi Sigma Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta in 1948. In February 1949 it became a Charter Chapter and is now known as the Albany (GA) Alumnae Chapter.
Emma Belle furthered her education by receiving a Master of Arts and Master of Education degrees from Columbia University, N.Y .. Her enthusiasm for the piano and music led to even further study at the Cleveland Institute of Music, as well as, the prestigious lnterlochen Arts Academy, located in NW Michigan.
E. Clas, the name she preferred, was a classically trained concert pianist, teacher and Music Therapist. She spent many years teaching in the Cleveland Public Schools; Cuyahoga Community College; Cleveland Music Settlement and the Queens College, N.Y .. Her kind, engaging gentle way, complimented her genuine love for music and the piano.
She was also actively involved with several churches, various community groups and events. She was the Director of Music for over 16 yrs, at The First Church of Religious Science, also performing at two(2) of their Annual Eastern Conferences held at the Virginia Beach Hotel Resort; and she played at Unity Center of the Heights. She was the consummate professional and especially enjoyed playing with the legendary Bob "Skeets" Ross at the Renaissance Hotel.
She leaves in mourning her nieces Bernice Dowdy McDaniel(Ted), Columbus O.; Hope Dowdy, Atlanta GA; her Legal Guardian Doreen M. Banks along with other family and friends.
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