Jonnie Sue Stone Emory, 77, of Columbia, died Friday, February 9, 2017 peacefully, surrounded by her family. Born April 2, 1940, in Columbia, SC, she was the daughter of the late Johnson Hamilton and Alma Lee Ansley Stone.

Jonnie grew up in Sumter, SC. Her summers were spent "going to the pavilion" at Ocean Drive and shagging the night away. After graduating from Edmunds High School she went on to earn an Associates Degree at Newberry College, where she also was a cheerleader for the Indians. After college, Jonnie worked as a secretary at Shaw AFB in Sumter where she met the love of her life, James Wallace Emory. They were married in September, 1960.

During her time as a military wife Jonnie worked as a preschool teacher and secretary, with her last job as Jim's secretary for Litton Industries in Hampton, VA. She was a member of First United Methodist Church Fox Hill in Hampton, Virginia.

While a Carolina Girl at heart, Jonnie enjoyed the close friendships that came from military life during Jim's postings in Japan, Germany, Sumter, the Pentagon and Hampton in Virginia. Jonnie's greatest joys came from being a wife, mother, grandmother & ultimately great grandmother. In this life she became known as "GJ" and made it her goal to be present for every award ceremony, sporting event, birthday party, graduation and wedding. With eight grandchildren, she and Jim logged many miles in this endeavor! Summers at Pawleys Island were sacred and never missed by a member of the family (if they knew what was good for them)!

To know Jonnie was to know her partner of 56 years, Jim. Like peas and carrots, some of us are just better together than apart and Jonnie & Jim will now always be together.

Survivors include sons, Guy Edward Emory, II (Julie Lynn), and Glenn Johnson Emory (Jennifer Beth); a daughter, Ansley Wallace Emory Casey (Michael); eight grandchildren, Ashleigh Wolfe (Darren) and Guy Emory III, Grant Emory (Laura), Duncan Emory and Greyson Emory, Wallace Casey, Fletcher Casey and Bryson Casey; and one great grandchild, Emory Wolfe; sister, Shirley Stone Keyes & brother-in-law Abbie Keyes; numerous nieces, and nephews, who all meant so much to her. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James Wallace Emory.

The family would also like to thank Jackie Bennett for her friendship these last few months.

A graveside service will be held 2 o'clock, Friday, March 9th, at Fort Jackson National Cemetery, 4170 Percival Road, Columbia. The family will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 12 o'clock at Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel, 7600 Trenholm Road Ext., Columbia. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in her name to the charity of one's choice.