Family blessed with third generation Easter baby

Emelia Joy Clark is held by her maternal grandmother, Judy Manna, as Emelia's mother Samantha looks on. Emelia, Judy and Samantha all share an Easter Sunday birthday, with Emelia being their latest to share the birthday. Submitted photo

Staff Reports

A local family had an extra special Easter Sunday when its newest member arrived as a third generation Easter baby girl.

Emelia Joy Clark was born Sunday in Amarillo, Texas, becoming the third generation of the family to be born on Easter Sunday for the family.

Emilia’s maternal grandmother, Judy Manna, Columbus resident, was born to Don and Joyce Weiss in Deadwood, South Dakota, on Easter Sunday, April 18, 1965. Twenty-nine years later in 1994, Judy, now married to Mike Manna, delivered her third child, Samantha Dawn in Huron, South Dakota, also on Easter Sunday which landed on April 3 that year.

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Judy’s due date was not until April 15, but she often said to her doctor, “Just so you know, I’m hoping to interrupt your Easter Sunday plans this year.” As the doctor placed newborn Samantha into Judy’s arms for the first time, he marveled over the coincidence of both mother and baby daughter being born on Easter Sunday. He thought it sounded like a newspaper story. Judy remembers looking into Samantha’s tiny face and replying, “Now if THIS baby grows up to have an Easter baby — THAT will be newsworthy!”

Mike and Judy raised Samantha in South Dakota with their other children until 2002 when they went to Ukraine as missionaries for 10 years.

Twenty five short years later, Samantha “Sammie” and Titus Clark were expecting their second child with the baby’s due date April 28. Sammie and Judy checked a calendar to see upon what date Easter would fall in 2020, and learned April 12 would be more than two weeks before the due date, family members said. A sonogram revealed that the couple’s baby was a girl.

Mike and Judy traveled from Columbus to Texas three weeks before the baby’s due date, arriving the week before Easter.

To everyone’s excitement, Samantha began experiencing some pre-labor signs. The family held their breath as in the early hours of April 9, Sammie had five hours of regular contractions.

“Well, this will be special, too,” Judy said to herself. “We will have a complete set.”

Mike and Judy have another little granddaughter who was born on Good Friday three years ago. “Now we will have a Maundy Thursday baby girl, a Good Friday baby girl, and two Easter baby girls!” she thought

However, as Sammie got out of bed to prepare for the possibility of going to the hospital, the contractions stopped … until the day before Easter Sunday.

From early that morning, Sammie had regular, light contractions that grew in intensity all day. By 4 p.m., it was obvious that she was experiencing real labor and the family thought she might deliver a day early. Then at 6 p.m., everything slowed.

Contractions increased in intensity and were 5 minutes apart from 8 p.m. The couple left for the hospital at 9:30 p.m.

“Only 2 1/2 hours till midnight,” the family thought.

Sammie had originally invited Judy to be in the delivery room with them, but with the Covid 19 limitations, that was no longer a possibility. Judy said she stayed home and prayed for a safe delivery and a healthy baby.

Samantha went in under observation, but her labor progressed so the hospital staff moved her to a delivery room. The minutes ticked by to make hours. The family rejoiced as the clock passed midnight. Sammie continued to labor through the night and at 7:17 a.m. Easter morning, Emilia Joy Clark entered the world — a third generation Easter baby girl.

Judy said the family’s hearts were filled with wonder over baby Emilia and the incredible timing of her birth.

Both families are serving in full-time Christian work. Judy supports her husband, Mike from their home in Columbus as the Global Training Director for Youth for Christ International. They are also members at Community Church of Columbus. Sammie supports her husband, Titus as they serve as the Program Director at Ceta Canyon Camp and Conference Center near Amarillo, Texas.