ella mae johnson Biographical details

Ella Mae Johnson turns 105 on Jan. 13 and is planning at attend Barack Obama’s presidential inauguration one week later. Some highlights of her life:

Born in Dallas in 1904.

Orphaned as a child, she was taken in and raised by a neighborhood couple.

While a student at Fisk University in Nashville, participated in a students’ strike for social justice by refusing to attend classes the first part of her senior year.

Came to Cleveland in 1926 and joined Mount Zion Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, where a family gave her a place to live. She remains a member of that church.

Attained master’s degree at Western Reserve University (now Case Western Reserve University) School of Applied Social Sciences in 1928.

As a social worker, she helped the Stokes family in Cleveland. Carl Stokes became Cleveland’s mayor. Louis Stokes became a longtime Cleveland congressman.

She is a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

Source: Associated Press

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