Didlake and her family moved to Kentucky, where she married a coal miner in 1922 and later stayed to raise a family
he was 38 years old and the mother of five in 1943 when she signed up for the Woman's Army Auxiliary Corps,s he served for seven months state side as a private and a jeep driver.The family moved to Detroit from Alabama in 1944.
For her service in World War II, Didlake earned the Women's Army Corps Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, and World War II Victory Medal.
She had recently moved to assisted living in West Bloomfield MI. She had visited with the President and been honored as the oldest living Veteran just a month before her death.
1940 census
Name: Emma Didlake
Respondent: Yes
Age: 30
Estimated birth year: abt 1910
Gender: Female
Race: Negro (Black)
Birthplace: Alabama
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Home in 1940: Verda, Harlan, Kentucky
Street: Verda Comp
Inferred Residence in 1935: Verda, Harlan, Kentucky
Residence in 1935: Same House
Sheet Number: 15A
Attended School or College: No
Highest Grade Completed: High School, 3rd year
Weeks Worked in 1939: 0
Income: 0
Income Other Sources: No
Household Members:
Name Age
Oscar Didlake 40
Emma Didlake 30
John Ernest Didlake 16
Winifred Didlake 14
Jacqueline Didlake 10
Homer High 44

Ancestry believes she is the same woman as Emma Didlake
Name: Emma Underwood
Age in 1910: 6
Birth Year: abt 1904
Birthplace: Alabama
Home in 1910: Tishabee, Greene, Alabama
Race: Black
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Daughter
Marital Status: Single
Father's name: Sam Underwood
Father's Birthplace: Alabama
Mother's name: Amanda Underwood
Mother's Birthplace: Alabama
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Sam Underwood 54
Amanda Underwood 52
Chester Underwood 18
William Underwood 16
Mary Underwood 14
John E Underwood 12
Robert Underwood 10
Lizzie Underwood 8
Emma Underwood 6
Jessie Underwood 4
Cora L Underwood 2
Tom Underwood 0
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Name: Emma Didlake
Birth Year: 1905
Race: Negro, citizen (Black)
Nativity State or Country: Alabama
State of Residence: Kentucky
County or City: Harlan

Enlistment Date: 11 Feb 1943
Enlistment State: Ohio
Enlistment City: Cincinnati
Branch: Womens Army Corps
Branch Code: Inactive Reserve
Grade Code: Aviation Cadet
Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law
Component: Womens Army Corps
Source: Civil Life

Education: 4 years of high school
Civil Occupation: Teachers, primary school and kindergarten
Marital Status: Married
Height: 64
Weight: 134