Ella Mary Miller was born to Hudson and Willie-Ella Miller in Jackson, Mississippi on September 15, 1944. Ella was the eldest of three siblings − two sisters, Lillian and Carolyn, and one brother, Hudson Jr. (who preceded her in death). She received Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior at age 12 and was baptized at Old Strangers’ Home Church in Jackson, Mississippi. Ella attended McNair High School in Jackson.
In her early life, Ella was a faithful homemaker, providing a loving home for her husband and children. She served for many years as President of Hermitage Manor Housing Cooperative. She also volunteered at Brown Elementary and was a community activist, working with CEDA to provide summer jobs for teens. She also provided daycare services to select family and friends, and Ella was an accomplished seamstress.
After the untimely death of her husband James, Ella began a career in nursing, attending Malcolm X College and gaining her credentials as a Licensed Practical Nurse in 1981. Ella worked as an LPN for 31 years, working at several Chicago-area hospitals before becoming a private-duty nurse. She retired from nursing in 2012. Ella was also an accomplished businesswoman, investing significant time and effort managing her real estate rental properties in the Chicago-land area.
In 1987, Ella was united in marriage to Eddie Dunn, to whom she’s been married the last 33 years. She was an active and faithful member of First Baptist Congregational Church for fifty years, serving on the Trustee and Nurse’s Boards until she retired from both. She was a founding member of the Inspirational Choir, sang with the Voices of FBCC, and was currently Team Four’s president. She was appointed to the Mother’s Board in 2016 and selected as FBCC Mother of The Year in 2019. Ella truly loved her church and was greatly loved by her church family. She touched the lives of many.
Ella was preceded in death by her first husband, James Young, Sr., her younger brother, Hudson Miller, Jr., and her firstborn son, James Young, Jr. Ella leaves to cherish her memory: her beloved husband Eddie, her sisters Lillian and Carolyn, her son Kenneth, and daughters Tina (Horace) and Myskeshia; seven grandchildren − Cherese, Lydia, Vernon, Steven, Latrina (Brandon), Kayla and Kenneth Jr.; ten great-grandchildren − Zachary, Jalier, Mariah, Sebastian, Juliana, Tristan, Jada, Ethan, Jacoby and Aniyah. She also leaves her favorite brother-in-law, Fred Young, Sr., nieces Jonette and Carroll, nephews Lenard, Bernard and Keith, step-daughters Joann and Sansaray and many other beloved great-nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws in Detroit, Mississippi, Milwaukee, Memphis and Chicago.
Ella lived a first-rate life, full of service and love to others. She was faithful until the Lord Jesus Christ called her home to be in His presence and to enter into His rest.