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Emma McElveen Laffitte Obituary
June 29, 1934 - January 23, 2025
Columbia, South Carolina - Emma McElveen Laffitte, aged 90, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, January 23, 2025. Following a private family burial, a service celebrating Emma's life will be held on Friday, January 31, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. at The Chapel of the Holy Spirit at Still Hopes Retirement Community, One Still Hopes Drive in West Columbia. A reception will follow at the adjacent Guignard Mansion.
Daughter of the late Dr. Hawkins King Jenkins, Jr. and Ruby Jenerette Jenkins, Emma was born June 29, 1934 in the Mountain Province of Sagada, Philippine Islands where her father was a medical missionary for the Episcopal Church. While on furlough, World War II commenced and the family settled at the State Park Tuberculosis Sanatorium near Columbia, South Carolina.
Growing up in Columbia, she attended Columbia High School and the University of South Carolina. In 1957 she married W. Powers McElveen and became a dedicated member of First Presbyterian Church where she enjoyed serving the Lord for many years as a Sunday school teacher and working with the Women of the Church, which she later served as President and received the Lifetime Membership Award.
Emma loved her family dearly, which expanded considerably when Powers passed away after forty years of marriage, and she subsequently married M. Tucker Laffitte, Jr. in 2000. Not a day passed when she was not on the phone with a child or grandchild checking in to see how everyone was doing. Emma also treasured her many friendships, which continued to grow after Tucker passed away in 2023 and she moved to Still Hopes.
Emma was predeceased by Powers, Tucker and her sister, Gertrude Gause. She is survived by her children: William Powers McElveen, Jr. (Tammy), Louis Manigault McElveen (Elizabeth), Hawkins Jenkins McElveen (Katie); her grandchildren: Mary McElveen Barker (Jake), Charlotte McElveen Willard (Preston), Elizabeth Tennent McElveen, Louis Manigault McElveen, Jr. (Sam), William Earl McElveen (Lauren), Capers Ivison McElveen, Rivers Monroe McElveen and Jeffere Powers McElveen; and her great-grandchildren: Emma Marie Greenberg, Andrew Morton Greenberg, Jr., Margaret Moseley Barker, Woodrow Preston Willard, Jr. and Josephine Manigault Willard; and Hawk's stepdaughter, Melissa Huck Kelly.
Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 1324 Marion Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29201.
Memories and condolences may be shared at ShivesFuneralHome.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Emma McElveen Laffitte
3 Entries
Nancy Johnson
September 3, 2025
So sorry I conflated your dad´s name with your dad´s name. I wrote that late at night! But my point stands, a reunion with all her loved ones she had not been with for so long. Take care. NSJ
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Nancy Johnson
September 2, 2025
Just learning about your mother, grandmother, great grandmother´s death. Emma was my mother´s first cousin. My mother, who died in 2012 was Mary Francis "Pinky" DeVane Snell. Her mother was Frosty Belle Jenerette, sister of Emma´s mother Ruby. Aunt Ruby visited us often when my three sisters and I were children and we loved her so much and thought she was beautiful. On the too few occasions we met Emma, who would be my second cousin, 22 years older than I found her equally lovely. I know my mother regretted losing touch with her Jenerette cousins after her mother and Aunt Ruby died. She longed for the older days when extended families all lived within 30 miles of each other. It sounds like Emma had a life filled with love and left a legacy for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. What a blessing. I´m happy I got to know her even a bit too too long ago. May God bless and keep you all. I will think of her reunited with Aunt Ruby, her dad, Gertrude and her husband Hawkins and second husband...plus her other departed family members, including my mother and grandmother. I know as hard as it was to let her go, there surely was a joyous reunion in Heaven. With love from your cousins in NC and DC, Pinky and Tommy Snell´s girls: Nancy DeVane Snell Johnson, Ann Gayle Snell Ravenscraft in Chapel Hill) and Mary Louise Snell Cohen and Elizabeth Jenerette "Betsy" Snell Barrett in Washington DC.
Margaret "Peggy" Binette
January 27, 2025
My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Laffitte family. Dr. Tucker Laffitte III has taken care of my health needs for decades. His commitment to the care of patients is no doubt a reflection on the care and love demonstrated by his mother Emma McElveen Laffitte.
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