Emma Esther (Floyd) Gyant

On November 8, 2016 at Washington Hospital Center, WDC, Minister Emma Ester Mae Gyant peacefully transitioned this life to her heavenly home after a brief illness.

Emma was born on October 28, 1925 in Lumberton, NC to the late Mahaillia Byrd and William Vester Floyd. 

Minister Gyant grew up in Lumberton, NC where she attended Hilly Branch public schools. She met Horace Gyant, her high school sweetheart.  Horace was the apple of her eye.  He was a young strong basketball player and she was a cheerleader for the team. In all actuality she was his cheerleader.  They courted and fell in love and at the age of nineteen Horace asked Emma for her hand in marriage.

On September 7, 1942 Emma and Horace were joined together in Holy Matrimony and were blessed with their first child Charles Jr.  Horace decided to relocate his family to Washington, DC in search of a better life.  After relocating, Emma entered the employment field with D.C. Public Schools, Food Services Branch; where she worked at various schools as a cook.  She retired from Jefferson Junior High School on December 18, 1991.

Emma had their second child, Shirleen in 1945, who preceded Emma and Horace in death on June 13, 2007. On August 28, 1955 Emma gave birth to their third child, Antoinette.

Emma accepted Christ at an early age and attended the Hilly Branch Missionary Baptist Church in Lumberton, NC. After relocating to Washington, DC Emma and Horace joined the Mount Sinai Baptist Church in 1945, under the pastorate of Rev. J. C. Richardson.

She matriculated through the Washington Baptist Seminary and graduated in 1966.  She preached her initial sermon and respectfully gained the title Minister.  Minister Gyant was active in the ministry of God’s Word; preaching what thus sayeth the Lord.

Minister Emma Gyant was the president of the Mount Sinai Baptist Church Missionary Board for 65 years and a Deaconess for 65 years.   Emma and Horace would cook over 100 dinners for funeral repasts and Third Sunday dinners. Minister Gyant was a faithful participant in the 5am Prayer Band, Sunday School and Bible Study.

Minister Gyant sang in various choirs and served as an Usher on the Mount Sinai Baptist Church Usher Board. She loved her church family and was a dedicated member.  Emma received several certificates from Educational Training.  She also traveled the United States and served as a representative for the Lott Carey Foreign Missions Convention. At the 2007 Lott Cary Foreign Missions Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana she was Voted Woman of the Year.

Minister Gyant faithfully served as an officer and a member of the Mount Bethel Baptist Association Women’s Auxiliary for over 50 years.

She was a friend and mentor, spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ to inmates at various prisons through the Mt. Sinai Baptist Church Outreach Center and visited the sick throughout the D.C. Metropolitan area hospitals. 

Minister Emma Gyant loved her husband and family. She was a prayer warrior who prayed and thanked God for every breath that she took.  She also asked God to grant favor not only for her family’s lives but for every living creation that God created.  She was a giving, loving, passionate, humble and patient person to everyone that she would interact with.  Emma loved to praise God and was not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Minister Emma Gyant will forever be cherished in memory by her son, Charles (Beulah) Gyant of WDC; daughter, Antoinette (Aaron) of WDC; five grandchildren; six great grandchildren; five brothers and sisters; one sister-in-law, Ruthail McNair; a host of nieces, nephews, friends and her Mount Sinai Baptist Church family.

 Service Information