Cheerio Meredeth portrayed Emma Brand/Emma Watson on The Andy Griffith Show

Emma Watson or Emma Brand?

Cheerio Meredith might not be a recognizable name but if you are a fan of The Andy Griffith Show you will recall her portraying Emma Brand who later became Emma Watson. She was only in six episodes during the first two seasons of the show and was mentioned in two more. To fans, it seemed as though she was around Mayberry a lot longer. Emma was sassy and funny and brought life to every episode she appeared in.

Emma's appearances in Mayberry

The Andy Griffith Show

The New Housekeeper as Emma (This was the premiere episode of the series)

The Manhunt as Emma Brand

Ellie Comes to Town as Emma Brand

Those Gossipin' Men

Barney's Replacement

The Manicurist

The Bookie Barber - mentioned

Andy on Trial - mentioned

There was never an explanation for why the character's name was changed but Mayberry fans say that Goober Pyle (George Lindsey) was originally called Beasley. Some viewers say the writers probably forgot the names of the characters who were not around much but no one knows for certain.

Emma is a beloved character

Emma is one of the characters like Ernest T Bass (Howard Morris) who made each of the episodes she was in memorable. Ernest T was only in 5 episodes of The Andy Griffith Show but fans recall every one of them and it seems as if he was around a lot longer than anyone realized.

She is close friends with Aunt Bee Taylor, often gossiping with her on main street in front of the courthouse. She also briefly works as a manicurist in Floyd's Barbershop. A chronic jay-walker, she annoys Barney who is constantly trying to ticket her; she attacks him with this fact when Barney tries to work as a salesman. Barney keeps a file on her called "The Emma Watson Case."

Cheerio Meredith had many roles in TV and film

The actress Cheerio Meredith was born Edwina Lucille Hoffmann on July 12, 1890, in Missouri. She began her career as a stage actress at the age of 3 and her stage name was later given to her because she was always so cheerful. She later broke into films and TV. She appeared in "One Happy Family" in 1961 as Lovey Hackett. She also could be seen in Petticoat Junction, December Bride, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Tom Ewell Show, McHale's Navy and Bonanza.

Films in which Meredith appeared included Brand of Courage (1958), The Long Count (1962),[4] The Fat Man (1951), I'll Cry Tomorrow (1955), I Married a Woman (1958), The Legend of Tom Dooley (1958), The Three Stooges in Orbit (1962), The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm (1962)[2] and Sex and the Single Girl (1964).

Emma will live on as long as their are fans of Mayberry

Cheerio Meredith was married to Conde Thompson Mosley​​ from 1910 until he died in 1949. She later married Chester Morrison. The actress had four children, three of them were actors on Broadway before going into other careers. The fourth became a play producer.

As Emma there were many memorable moments like the time she called Barney Fife (Don Knotts) a "naughty deputy" or when the criminal was in her house and she answered the door making face with her eyes and trying to warn Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith). What about when Ellie the druggist (Elanire Donahue) would not give Emma her sugar pills and she thought she was dying?

The actress died in 1964 of undisclosed causes after a lengthy illness. Emma Brand/Emma Watson will live on in the hearts and minds of dedicated fans of The Andy Griffith Show.