Our Story

Thank you for stopping by our little, sweet side of the world ♥. We are so glad you thought enough of us to come and check us out, so let’s dig in!!!

People ask me all the time where the name “Emma, Jo & Julia” came from, and I’m so glad they asked! This business name has been in my brain for at least 5 years, and it is in homage to all 3 (yes THREE) of my grandmothers. If one is so blessed, they get to know one / have one grandmother. I had three. Let me tell you about them.

Emma Louise was my father’s mom, and she was one of the sweetest people on this earth. She was an AMAZING chef, and often catered for people, especially during the holiday seasons. I remember growing up and being at her home for Christmas, and it seemed to be the most magical time of the year. We would pull up to her home, (it would be cold outside), and as soon as she opened the back door with a smile and a hug for us (after our weary road travels), the first thing we would smell is her boysenberry cobbler!!! YUM YUM YUM!!! My mom would make us unload the van first, take a bath, and then we could get ready to feast, no matter what time we got there. 3am? No problem. Nanny (as we affectionately called her) had a spread. She made THE best lasagna ever, and oh my goodness…. don’t get me started on the Christmas sweets! To this day, I only love her pecan sandies during Christmas time because that’s the only time of year I could taste that deliciousness!! I used to watch her cook like crazy for her clients (so much love came out of that small kitchen), and work so much that her whole body would ache, but she still found time to entertain all of us, and wake up early so she and I could have our coffee and fruit salad, and just catch up. So, as I bake these rum cakes, I’m transported back to when Ms. June, who lived down the street, would bring over her famous rum cakes, with the pecans baked in. Imagine — a 7 year old, sneaking in the kitchen for scrumptious, after scrumptious bite of rum cake. I’m thankful that I now have some of my grandmother’s recipes!! This cake is one of them………………

Jo, short for Joserine, was my mother’s biological mom. I honestly do not know much about her, because she passed away when my mother was only 5 years old. I have often thought of what type of grandmother she would have become as some of the stories her siblings told me were pretty cool. I can only imagine that she was an amazing cook as well, since women from that time frame generally knew how to throw down in the kitchen!!

And lastly, my grandmother, Julia. She is my step-grandmother, but I simply called her “grandmama.” What an incredible woman. She was the one I learned, from which to say, “leave my mess alone. It is MY mess.” She also used to tell me that I was driving too slow, on those back country roads, and I was going 65. I believe I got my lead foot from her!!! She was the epitome of a Godly woman, and she could cook! However, I really didn’t eat much of her cooking because sometimes, she would cook items that I simply would not touch, like rabbit (when my pet rabbit went missing, I SWORE she took it and boiled it in a pot, but that’s neither here nor there lol)!!! But, she did make the best fried cornbread on this side of heaven!!! She truly instilled in me an entrepreneurial spirit, as this woman was the ONLY person I know who could sell cosmetic jewelry to the roughest looking individuals known to man! Do you know why? It’s probably because at one point, these tough looking men were once one of her many students. She used to teach English and Math. She would pull up on them, and say “HEY!!!! Buy this for ya mama, and tell her I said hey!” To which, they would reply “yes ma’am Mrs. Julia,” and they surely purchased those necklace and earring sets hahahaha!!! My Grandmama was a G! She also taught me the art of fishing, although from that day till now, I still cannot put a worm on the hook OR take the fish off.

So for these three reasons, I pay homage to my grandmothers for helping me to become the woman I am today. I ♥ them.