She served citizens of the county for many years as a justice court judge.
Inge first ran for office in 1977.
"I ran for an unexpired term in November 1977 and won from the 3rd District of Bolivar County," Inge told The Bolivar Commercial in a previous interview.
By winning that election, she became the first black female justice court judge in the county.
"One thing I accomplished was integration, even on a lower scale for the Delta in Mississippi," she said. "I was the first black woman in the Delta to serve as justice court judge in 1977.
She held her office until April 2002, when she ended her 24-year tenure.
"I worked with Judge Inge as a sheriff for many years," said Sheriff H.M. "Mack" Grimmett. "She was the type of judge that if you needed her, she was always available to you."
Grimmett recalled that she would even open her home to law enforcement officers.
"I went to her home in Mound Bayou many times to get paper work so we could get our jobs done," Grimmett explained. "She was a friend to law enforcement."
Inge was originally from Georgia.
She was born on June 14, 1924, to Samuel Lucas and Geneva Solomon Lucas. She attended the public schools in Nashville, Ga., for her early education.
When Inge entered high school, she attended the private American Missionary Association High School in Macon, Ga.
She then attended and graduated from Fort Valley College in Fort Valley, Ga.
She moved to Mound Bayou in 1967.
Before becoming a judge, Inge worked with young people as a school teacher.
She began her career in education by coaching a boys' state basketball team.
"I've always been active wherever there were children," she told The Bolivar Commercial in 2002.
She taught at schools in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and Washington, D.C., before her move to the Mississippi Delta.
When she arrived in Mound Bayou, Inge became a youth consultant at Delta Health Center in Mound Bayou.
Her work did not begin and end at the doors of the health center. Inge was very active in her community.
"I knew her for quite a number of years," said Mound Bayou Superintendent William Crockett. "She was active in the community as well as in the schools.
"She worked at the health center with youth and others, after that she served as judge," Crockett continued. "She was quite instrumental in helping the schools as well as the community.
"She was active in civic organizations, in church and in public community activities," Crockett said.
Inge was active as a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Mound Bayou.
She became a member of the Iota Delta Omega Chapter of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. on April 9, 1983.
She then helped charter the Chi Mu Omega Chapter of the sorority, which is located in Mound Bayou.
"I've known Erma ever since she came to Mound Bayou, so a long number of years," said former Mound Bayou Alderwoman Eulah Peterson. "I found her to be a positive, down to earth person — no nonsense.
"She was very much interested in people and the welfare of people," Peterson continued. "She had a great sense of humor."
"I never heard anybody say a negative word against her," said Grimmett. "She was a positive person and a person of character. That means a lot people."
The Bolivar County Sheriff's Department officers will act as pallbearers at Inge's funeral Saturday.
"I will be a pallbearer at Judge Inge's funeral," said Grimmett. "To me, it's an honor to be a pallbearer.
"That's how much we cared about Judge Inge," he continued. "She was an outstanding judge, an outstanding lady.
"I can't say enough about her because not only was she a judge, but she was my friend also," Grimmett said. "The rest of the law enforcement officers — highway patrol, police departments, gaming and fish — everybody will be honorary pallbearers."
Services for Inge will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Lampton Street Church of Christ.