Ella Mae Ballard Swinton was born to the late Lina Riddick Ballard Elliott and the late William Henry Ballard in Gates County, NC on January 24, 1922. She was the eldest of five girls; Willard Beatrice Ballard, the late Sarah Louise Ballard, the late Erma Lee Elliott Parker and Waynger, who died very young.

In November of 1935, Ella Mae married Lovell Swinton and moved to the Tidewater area of Virginia, where together they had 6 children: Lorenzo Swinton (Phyllis) of NC; Walter Ray Swinton (Mable) of VA; Angeline Benton (Leon) of VA; Jeffrey Swinton of VA; Evelyn Swinton of VA; and the late Winston Swinton (Charlotte) of GA. When Lovell died in 1965, she proceeded to independently raised her 6 children in Portsmouth, VA with the support of her church – New First Baptist Church (Taylorsville) and her faith in God.  Ella Mae spent many days and hours at Taylorsville, in the choir, other ministries and as a Church Mother, often hosted prayer meetings and gatherings in her home, where she offered support and prayers for anyone and everyone.

For most of her life, Ella Mae lived in the infamous Jeffrey Wilson Homes. She received a Plaque of Recognition for being one of the first residents to move in 1953 ad the last resident to depart in 2004. During her later years of life, she was supported by her granddaughter Carletha Swinton, who had become her confidant, caregiver, best friend, medical advisor and more. She will be missed by many, including her sister Bea, her more than 30 grandchildren and more than 50 great grandchildren and many more nieces, nephews, family and friends.

Ella Mae lived a long life and was expected to live even longer. She came from a lengthy line of longevity, where he mother lived to nearly 110 years of age and her grandmother was more than 100 years of age. So while she was nearing 100 years young, we still expected to have her with us for a few years more.

She was a woman of strong faith in God, a storyteller and a peacemaker. She always had a smile. a prayer and a blessing for everyone. We will miss her pickled-watermelons rinds, picking cotton from the cotton plant she kept from her cotton-picking days, her quick wit and her way to avoid unpleasant things by saying, “Well, I ‘ont know nothing ’bout it!” Mostly, we are grateful to know that she is still praying over us, as she now stands at the right hand of God.