Emma Pearl Hood was born on August 18, 1920 in Laurel, Mississippi to Johnny Clifton Hood and Hattie Pearl Knowles. On July 29, 1940, she married Jesse Auguesta Sulzer. They had five children together, Frances, Linda, Regina, Lamar, and James. Pearl was a talented seamstress and stylist during her life. She could look at a garment in store and later recreate it based upon memory. She regularly used her Standard Sewing Machine. Later, starting in her late 50’s, she ran a beauty shop out of her home and would also sell items she’d made.

Standard Sewing Machine – circa 1904 Manufactured in Cleveland, Ohio, beginning in 1884, after the dissolution of Singer, Wheeler & Wilson, and Grover & Baker. The most popular model was the “Standard Rotary”. In 1929, the Osaan Company purchased the Standard Company. Later, in the 1930’s it would again change hands and become a part of the Singer Manufacturing Co.