Emma Jean Kaho

Published 12:00 am Saturday, April 19, 2014

Aug. 5, 1945 — April 9, 2014

NATCHEZ — Services for Emma Jean Kaho, 68, of Natchez, who died Wednesday, April 9, 2014, at Natchez Community Hospital, will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Bethlehem Baptist Church with the Rev. Percy Turner officiating.

Burial will follow in Smithland Baptist Church Cemetery under the direction of Bateaste Memorial Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Mrs. Kaho was born Aug. 5, 1945, the daughter of the Rev. Charlie Ford Sr. and Mariah Gray Ford.

She was the step-daughter of Theresa Ford.

She confessed Christ at an early age and united with Gospel Temple Baptist Church. She later united with Smithland Baptist Church, where she served faithfully in the choir until her health failed.

She was married to the Rev. Charles Edward Kaho.

Having a voice of an angel, she sang numerous solos all over and also sang with several area choirs. She was a member of the Angelic Harmonettes and one of the founders of the Ford Family Mass Choir.

She was employed by AJFC as a family resource worker and truly enjoyed her job. She loved her family and many friends. Her hobbies were singing, writing and working puzzles.

Mrs. Kaho was preceded in death by her parents; step-mother; one grandson, Je’Keius Foster; two brothers, Charlie Jr. and Wilson; six sisters, Rosa Lee, Laura, Helen, Louise, Ella D. and Annie Mae; father-in-law, Herman Kaho Sr.; mother-in-law, Doris Kaho; and step daughter, Doretha Jackson; and a number of uncles and aunts.

Survivors include her loving husband; one son, James Henry Drake III of Norfolk, Va.; two daughters, Yolanda Foster and husband, Warren, and Angela Ivory and husband, Robert, all of Natchez; six grandchildren, Je’Kel Foster and wife, Ayra, of Dallas, Delequa Drake, Jandrea Owens and husband, Cedric, Jayvin Foster, all of Natchez, Javan Drake and Octavia Drake, both of Norfolk; two great-grandsons, Jekei Foster of Dallas and Baby Owens of Natchez; one brother, the Rev. Ernest Ford Sr. and wife, Mary, of Natchez; four sisters, Janie Jones, Bertha Bernard and husband, Percy, Willie Mae Clemons and Carolyn Hill and husband, Ray, all of Natchez; two special nieces, Jacqueline Hargrave and husband, Paul, who was like a daughter, and Ethel Clemons and husband, Ernest Sr., who was like a sister, all of Natchez; four brothers-in-law, Herman Kaho Jr., Donald Kaho and wife, Belinda, Clifton Kaho and wife, Betty and the Rev. Ronald Kaho and wife, Mary; three sisters-in-law, Mary Ford, who was like a sister, Shirley Kaho and Mattie Ford; four god-children, Mary Marshall, LaKrystal Nelson and Norman Bernard, all of Natchez, and Jacqueline Thomas of Fayette; two godbrothers, Ardell and Darnell Brown, both of Vidalia; two special friends, Lillian Renee Dean and Angela Butler; and a number of nephews, nieces, other relatives and friends.

Online condolences may be sent to bateastefuneralhomes.com.