"Emery Babies" - a support group of adult adoptees whose birthmothers were residents at the Emery Memorial Home and Hospital, Richton, Mississippi, between 1931 and 1963. They are seeking answers to "where did I come from", "what is my family history", and "who do I look like".

As baby boomers, some adoptees are experiencing medical problems and accurate family medical history would be advantageous for treatment. 

ALL BABIES are wanting to thank their birthmothers for the sacrifices they made in allowing them to be placed for adoption with loving, caring families and to let them know that there is no shame in the choice that they made.

Over the past few years, one of our Searchers has matched approximately thirty Emery adoptees with birth families.  Adoption is a very private and personal matter and for various reasons not all have decided to seek out their birthmothers.  As a support group, we share information about searching and leave the decision for making contact up to the adoptee.  If the adoptee decides to contact the birthmother, then we have support members to assist, if needed.

History of the Emery Home

In 1931, the Emery Home was opened after the E.A. Emery family donated their property to the Missionary Bands of the World.  The Home was established as a home for unwed mothers.  Rev. Mable Cooper was superintendent of the Home from 1931 until her death at the Home in 1961. 

In 1962, Gov. Ross Barnett issued a proclamation designating January 30 as "Emery Memorial Home Day" and stated that it was estimated that two thousand young women had found a home away from home at absolutely no cost to them at the Emery Home.

While staying at the Home, the girls were assigned biblical names and their real names were kept confidential.  Some of the girls were at the Home for months prior to delivery and others for only a short time.  Some were there to give birth more than once. 

During the early years, the Home had the same facilities for obstetrical work as hospitals and a full-time nurse and most of the babies were delivered there.  In the later years, some of the babies were delivered at hospitals in Hattiesburg or Laurel.

The Home was closed in 1963 and burned under mysterious circumstances in 1964.