Ella Mae Johnson facts for kids

Ella Mae Cheeks Johnson (born January 13, 1904 – died March 22, 2010) was an amazing American social worker, activist, and author. She became famous in 2009 when she was 105 years old. She traveled all the way to Washington D.C. to attend the special event where Barack Obama became the U.S. President.

Biography

Early Life and Education

Ella Mae Smith was born on January 13, 1904, in Dallas, Texas. She never knew her father. Her mother died when Ella Mae was only four years old. This meant she became an orphan. Her kind neighbors, the Davis family, raised her.

She was a very smart student. She graduated as the second-best student from Dallas Colored High School. Ella Mae was able to go to college thanks to several scholarships. She also worked as a waitress at a YMCA tearoom.

In 1921, she started at Fisk University. While there, she heard a famous speech by W. E. B. Du Bois. She earned a bachelor's degree in French from Fisk University. Later, she moved to Cleveland, Ohio. She studied for her master's degree in social work. She attended Case Western Reserve University. She was one of only two African American students accepted into the program each year.

Family Life

In 1929, Ella Mae married her first husband, Elmer Cheeks. He was an electrical engineer. They had two sons named Jim and Paul. Elmer passed away after 12 years of marriage.

Later, she married her second husband, Raymond Johnson. He worked as a probation officer. Ella Mae also became a widow from this marriage.

Helping Others: Her Career

Ella Mae Johnson worked for welfare departments. She helped people in Cuyahoga County, Ohio. Her job involved finding scholarships for students from low-income families. She also gave money to single mothers who needed help.

Some of the people she helped included Louise Stokes and her young sons. These sons grew up to be famous leaders: Carl Stokes and Louis Stokes. Ella Mae retired in 1961. After retiring, she loved to travel. She visited more than 30 countries around the world.

In 1975, she moved to an assisted living facility in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.

Attending the Obama Inauguration

Ella Mae Johnson became well-known in 2009. She was 105 years old at the time. She attended the special event where Barack Obama became president. This was in Washington D.C.. She wore a sleeping bag and warm clothes to stay cozy in the cold weather.

Ohio U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown gave her a ticket to the event. In interviews, Ella Mae said President Obama was "so interesting and brilliant." She also believed a woman would one day be president.

Her Later Years and Book

Ella Mae Johnson passed away on March 22, 2010. She was 106 years old. She was survived by her sons, James and Paul. She also had a stepson, five grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. At the time of her death, she was the oldest living African American graduate of Case Western Reserve University.

Her life story was published in a book. It was called It Is Well with My Soul: The Extraordinary Life of a 106-Year-Old Woman. She wrote it with author Patricia Mulcahy. The book was released shortly after she passed away.