Emory Blake Everette

Emory Blake Everette was born on April 13, 1936, in Atlanta, Georgia, as the second child of the late James Madison and Lettie Blake Everette. He was preceded in death by his eldest sister, Barbara Ann Cotton. Emory left this world peacefully on February 19, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of love, wisdom, and dedication.

Emory was a proud alumnus of Booker T. Washington High School, where he showcased his talent as a trombone player in the marching band. He graduated in 1954. He went on to attend Morehouse College and received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science in 1958. He was drafted into the Army later that year and completed two years of active-duty service followed by 4 years in the Army Reserves. While matriculating at Morehouse, Emory visited Morris Brown College and met the first real love of his life, Charlene Dupree. The two became a couple and fell in love eventually uniting in holy matrimony in December 1960. This special union resulted in two beautiful daughters, Carla and Joi who were both the apple of his eye.

Emory was a natural explorer. He loved exposing his family to cross-country and international travel. In the early 1970s, he chose far-flung vacation spots to include Cape Cod and Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, Niagara Falls, and West Virginia Appalachian Mountains. Europe, specifically Germany, France, and Italy ultimately fulfilled his travel bucket list.

Emory dedicated 31 years of his professional life to federal service, beginning with the United States Postal Service. Subsequently, he landed a permanent career with the Department of Labor as a Wage and Hour Investigator. He was instrumental in arbitrating and winning a labor union dispute as a Georgia Labor Union Rep. Due to his passion in arguing cases, he pursued a law degree and graduated from John Marshall Law School in 1974.  After taking the Georgia Bar Exam on multiple occasions, it was determined that the Georgia Bar Association was purposely failing minority students. After a lawsuit was filed, Emory was one of eighteen students sworn in as members of the Georgia Bar Association. This was the largest group of black attorneys ever to take the oath of office in the state of Georgia. While practicing as an Attorney at Law, Emory continued his federal service as a Manpower Management Manager with the Department of Labor until he retired in 1991.

Emory was keen on keeping up with technology. He enrolled in computer courses to learn and use new automation equipment. He availed himself to family, friends, and associates by loaning his legal expertise whenever the need arose. Aside from conducting official business, Emory immersed himself in the game of golf as a loyal and committed member of “The Flailers Golf Club”. They often traveled across the southeast to compete against fellow golf-mates. He had a special love for traditional jazz, even taking time to fine tune his trombone and piano skills. He was especially in his “happy place” when cooking for family and his daughter’s friends. His expert chef skills were in high demand…he baked, he fried, he grilled regardless of the size of the crowd. He was a master pool player and certainly enjoyed a good steak dinner at fine restaurants.

Emory certainly touched the lives of everyone he encountered. He was a loving and caring father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend, always there to offer support and wisdom. He leaves behind his beloved daughters, Carla Valisa Pettis (Reginald), Joi Everette McIntosh, his brother Clarence Everette, his sister, Jayne Mahboubi (Ahmad). He is also survived by his former spouse the mother of his daughters, Charlene Dupree Everette, four grandchildren (Rashauna Pettis, Reginald Pettis Jr., Nile McIntosh, Nijel McIntosh), two great grandchildren (Ava Brown and Phoenix Bexley) two sisters-in-law, Mary Alice Sherman and Edda Rose Feimster, brother-in-law, Otha Lee Dupree Jr. (Leslie), along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives who will forever hold him dear in their hearts. As we gather to celebrate Emory’s remarkable life, we remember him not only for his achievements but for the love he shared and the lives he touched. May his memory be a blessing to all who knew him.