Her mother Barbara (Erma's middle name,' Vernice', was also her mother's middle name), who was a talented Gospel singer, left the family when Erma was ten years old and died four years later under mysterious circumstances.
Her mother Barbara (Erma's middle name,' Vernice', was also her mother's middle name), who was a talented Gospel singer, had given birth to Erma's half-brother, Vaughn, in late 1934. Barbara left the family when Erma was ten years old and died four years later under mysterious circumstances.