The Places of Her Life

Location: Near Lithonia, DeKalb County, GA

Era: 1914-1922

Ella was born here on December 7, 1914, in her grandfather's tenant house. Close to Rockland Road, with church and school nearby.

"I was born on Klondike Road, close to Rockland Road. The church and the school were very near and handy."

📖 Chapter 1

Name means: "City of Stone" (Greek)

Known for: Granite quarries

Small town in DeKalb County where Ella lived most of her life. The Kelly family moved here when she was in second grade so the children could walk to school.

Ella's final resting place: Hillandale Memorial Gardens, Lithonia

📖 All chapters

Location: Lithonia, Georgia

Era: Later years - 2006

The home where Ella lived in her final years and where she passed away peacefully on September 25, 2006, surrounded by family.

Where her oral history video was recorded

📖 Chapter 11

Event: Ella & Theron's wedding

Date: December 18, 1937

County seat of Rockdale County. Ella and Theron were married in the pastoral room, in front of a Christmas tree, with just their sisters as attendants.

"We went to the pastoral room at Conyers and got married in front of a Christmas tree."

📖 Chapter 7

Grades taught: 1st, 2nd, 3rd

Era: 1933-1936

Ella's first job at 17½. Less than 17 students. Had an outhouse, a well, and a wood stove. Teachers were also janitors and built their own fires.

"I made $50 a month and couldn't go to work until October."

📖 Chapter 6

Location: Milledgeville, Georgia

Now: Georgia College & State University

Ella attended summer sessions here while teaching during the school year. Founded 1889 as a teacher training institution.

"I always had enough money saved to go back to GSCW because you had to go every year."

📖 Chapters 5, 6

Location: Downtown Atlanta

Graduated: 1960 (age 46)

Ella attended night classes while teaching full-time and raising three children. Took three history courses in her final quarter to finish.

"I graduated in '60 and I was 46 years old."

📖 Chapter 9

Era: 1952 onwards

Students: 42 children one year

Where Ella returned to teaching after closing her clothing store. Here she saw a bulletin board notice about special education that would change her career path.

Where her calling to special education began

📖 Chapter 9

Duration: 4 years, 3 months

Era: During and after WWII

Where Theron worked while deemed essential to the war effort. Ella met her lifelong best friend Elizabeth here and was mentored by Mrs. Burton.

"It was sat down on the friendliest corner in Montgomery, Alabama."

📖 Chapter 8

Location: Montgomery, Alabama

Significance: Why Theron was deferred

Theron worked at a supply depot serving these two military installations. He was told "You're more important where you are" and not drafted.

Now Maxwell Air Force Base

📖 Chapter 8

Location: Near Lithonia

Era: 1950s-1960s

Where Ella and Theron first served. When the highway took their building, they brought the congregation to Lithonia—starting what would become a new church.

"They didn't feel comfortable in a big church. But they surely did like the Lord."

📖 Chapter 10

Started as: Rented nursery on Conyers Street

Grew to: Church with steeple + educational building

From a rented space, to purchased buildings, to a full church. Volunteers from Alabama built the foundation. The educational building was named for Ella.

"They named the building for me."

📖 Chapter 10