Mrs. Ella Mae Brayboy

Obituary For Mrs. Ella Mae Brayboy

When Ella Mae Wade was born October 22, 1918, no one knew the impact she would have on community activism and voter registration/education in the state of Georgia. Ella Mae was born to Mr. Charlie and Mrs. Rosa Jackson Wade. She was the second oldest of eleven children. She was educated in the Atlanta Public Schools, graduating from the historic Booker T. Washington High School in 1935. She later attended Spelman College. In 1936, she married the late William Anderson Brayboy and gave birth to three darling daughters, Joyce, Wilma and Eleanor. Mrs. Brayboy’s passionate work ethic began as a waitress and evolved into one of the most committed community activists in Atlanta. Her activism was launched in the Pittsburgh Neighborhood where she organized and rallied the residents to secure indoor plumbing, electricity and natural gas. She would later further her civic duties as an employee of the Community Council of the Atlanta Area and the Atlanta Fulton County Library. She also served as a consultant to the Army Corp of Engineers during the development of MARTA, The University of Georgia School of Social Work and the Atlanta University Center of Library Science. Mrs. Brayboy was later recruited as a congressional aide and community liaison to then Congressman Andrew Young. In the midst of her professional work, Mrs. Brayboy’s commitment to empowering others guided her to become one of Georgia’s first black deputy voter registrars, at a time when racism and discrimination were rampant in the voting system. In this capacity she spearheaded the drive to register more than 10,000 people to vote. Former Governor Joe Frank Harris appointed Mrs. Brayboy as one of the first members of the Martin Luther King, Jr. State Holiday Commission. Mrs. Brayboy concluded her formal employment as the director of community affairs at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change and retired in 1995 after 15 years of service. Her journey for the elderly in her Hunter Hills community, however, was just beginning. In 1993, as chair of the Resource Development for the Fulton County Council on Aging, Mrs. Brayboy, fought and won the battle to allow thousands of senior citizens to ride taxis for half fare. In her beloved community, she spoke out feverishly in support of residents’ rights and against liquor stores and crime. Mrs. Brayboy’s other notable achievements included placing her alma mater, Booker T. Washington, Atlanta’s first public high school for African-Americans, on the National Historic Register, as well as Central United Methodist Church, where she was a lifelong member. While at Central, she volunteered in various capacities. She has served on numerous boards throughout the city including the Fulton County Board of Elections, The Fulton County Department of Family and Children’s Services and The Wesley Woods Homes, Inc. and Emory University. As a testimony to her outstanding endeavors, much of her work can be viewed in her collection at the Auburn Avenue Research Library. Her exceptional dedication and volunteerism led her to be an honorable woman from whom much can be learned. She leaves to cherish her legacy three daughters, Mrs. Joyce Jones, Mrs. Wilma Bailey, Mrs. Eleanor Proctor; two sisters, Mrs. Juanita Williams, and Mrs. Gloria (Charles) Wingfield, one brother, Mr. Lyndon (Shirley) Wade; seven grandchildren, Mr. Reginald Jones, Mr. Gregory (Joanne) Jones, Mrs. Donna Metts, Mrs. Aungelique (Max) Anderson, Mrs. Alexis (Byron Sr.), Kellam, Mr. William (Vickie) Jones, and Mr. Steven Bailey; thirteen great grandchildren, sister-in-law Mrs. Ellen Wade (Bill) McQueen and a hosts of nieces, nephews and other family members and friends