Emma Clayton Barton was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on February 18,1941. Unfortunately, at the age of 14 her mother died leaving her father to raise her as a single parent. She attended West Philadelphia High School where she demonstrated superior mathematical skills. In 1959 her pastor, Rev. Leon H. Sullivan, a leader in the Philadelphia civil rights movement, facilitated a position for her as a clerk-photographer at the Continental Bank, where she made photostats of deposited checks for bank records.
In the late 1960’s Emma married Verdayne Chappell, but they later divorced. Chappell had a drive for success therefore, in pursuit of a promotion, she was required to obtain a college degree. Determined to reach her goal, she attended Temple University at night for five years. In 1967, she was asked to enter an executive training program allowing her to work in every department in the bank. Upon completion of the program in 1971, she was promoted to assistant treasurer. By 1977 Chappell had become Continental Bank’s first African American vice president, the first in the history of Pennsylvania.
Chappell took great pride in her position as the chief of the Community Business Loan and Development Department for loans to minority-owned and women-owned small businesses. She granted more than 30 million in loans to black enterprises. She is credited with organizing the Model Cities Business and Commercial Project, now known as The Philadelphia Commercial Development Project, which revitalized commerce in the inner city.
In 1987, a group of prominent black Philadelphians, approached Chappell with the possibility of starting a black controlled bank, deeming her the potential leader. After multiple setbacks she founded the United Bank of Philadelphia with intentions to foster community development and banking services to businesses and individuals in Philadelphia. This endeavor was so successful that in 1999, the bank received the Blue Chip Enterprises award, sponsored by Mass Mutual and the United States Chamber of Commerce. Upon leaving her position as president, CEO, and Chairman of the Board in 2000 the United Bank of Philadelphia still remains a force in the black community.
Additionally, Chappell was instrumental in the founding of Operation Push, a founding vice president of the National Rainbow Coalition and finally, she was appointed by President Clinton to serve as a member on the board of directors of the Southern African Enterprise Development fund and the board of trustees of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. Students are benefitting today from “Passport 2000”, a program instituted by Chappell to introduce 2000 students to savings and money management as the key to economic independence.
Emma C. Chappell died on March 16, 2021 at the age of eighty. She is known for her advocacy in business, civil rights, and politics. Her passion was to assist minorities, and women of underserved communities to achieve their dreams. Community involvement was her mantra.
