Ella Mae Evans

April 15, 1925 - January 27, 2002

Ella Mae Evans, my mother has assumed, in a manner of speaking an umbrella-like posture of strength, courage, dedication, love and leadership that has served her children community and God well. Born to Vandelia Hill and Lawrence Poole on April 15, 1925, in Haines City. Florida. The youngest of four siblings, two girls and two boys, my mother spent the better part of her youth building a bridge linking her dreams to reality. Fueled by love and support from mother and siblings, she would later enter the field of cosmetology and personal grooming which lead her to train and eventually teach at John Robert Powers. Ella Mae was married to Eddie Lee Evans in 1949 in West Palm Beach, Florida, where she began raising and nurturing the first four of her five children.

Determined to make her vision of a better life for her family a reality, Ella Mae and family moved to California in 1959. Faced with the ever-present challenges that many families of African-American heritage encountered during this period in history, a determined Ella Mae was defiant to the nay-sayers. She would lead by example: First by opening and operating her own successful businesses in West Palm Beach, Florida and Los Angeles, California. Ella Mae would later come face to face with an unexpected and unwanted predicament - becoming a single parent of now five children and the earlier stages of illness (Later diagnosed as Pulmonary Fibrosis). The loss of her business created more determination and she would again lead by example.

Armed with the awareness and need for a good education, personal development and growth for herself and her children, Ella Mae involved herself with the community. This involvement, outlet and source for her personal growth, helped developed the Kittsville Youth Foundation Dance and Cultural Arts Program co-founded by Eartha Kitt and Ella Mae Evans in 1965. Ella Mae a chartered board member, program coordinator and instructor, contributed heavily to the success and continuous existence of this organization into the next millennium.

She enrolled at Los Angeles City College, and later transferred to California State University, Los Angeles where she earned two degrees, a BA Degree and a BVU (vocational education) Degree. Soon afterwards she pursued her Master Degree at California State University in mask making. During this trying period, she provided for her family and oversaw our development. The two oldest children, Larry and Wanda-Lee went on to attend UCLA, Dennis attended Los Angeles Trade Technical College and Yuba College in Northern California, Stacey (the youngest son) attended Los Angeles City College and I attended Fisk University (Tennessee), UCLA and UC Santa Barbara. Ella Mae was unable to complete her Masters by one class due to illness to which she eventually succumbed to on Sunday, January 27, 2002.

Ella Mae taught in the Los Angeles Unified School District until disability retirement; then bounced back to pursue a career as a theatrical make-up designer on several Broadway shows, televisionand film. In her new career, Ella Mae became a member of the Screen Actors' Guild, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and worked as an actress. She appeared in several commercials, films, television shows, videos, and stage productions. She was also a playwright and a member of the Playwright's Association. Ella Mae continues to lovingly serve us all as an umbrella of Strength, courage, perseverance, dedication, leadership and love...

Mother, we thank you for leading by example!