SALISBURY – Emma Mae Blackburn, age 78, of Salisbury, died Friday, Jan. 26, 2007, at Autumn Care of Salisbury.

Born Dec. 31, 1928, in Granite Falls, Mrs. Blackburn was the daughter of the late Dolly McCrary Herman and Avery Palmer. Educated in Collettsville School, she did her nurses training and obtained her Registered Nurse License from Grace Hospital.

Mrs. Blackburn worked at Charlotte Memorial Hospital and Presbyterian Hospital, while living in Charlotte. She later worked for 17 years at Highland Hospital in Ashe-ville, from where she retired.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Blackburn, in 1987.

Surviving are son Paul E. Biddix Jr. of Salisbury and brothers Buck Herman of Gamewell and John Herman of Lenoir.

Service: A Memorial Service will be held Sunday at 4 p.m. in Summersett Memorial Chapel. The Rev. Jerry Snipes, minister of Resurrection Life Church, will officiate.

Visitation: The family will see friends from 3-4 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Memorials: Memorials may be made to Grace Hospital School of Nursing, Alumni Association, c/o Jackie Pruett, 136 VFW Road, Morganton, NC 28655.

Summersett Funeral Home is handling the cremation memorial services.