Ella Mae Gregory , beloved daughter of the late Daniel and Lizzie Mae Jones, was born in Albany, Georgia on August 7, 1928.

During the early years of her life, she received her formal education in the Dougherty County School System.

Imbued with a strong Christian background, Ella Mae professed her faith and belief in Christ at a very early age.  She was baptized and received the "right hand of fellowship" in the body of Christ.  She was a faithful, dedicated member of Second Bethesda Missionary Baptist Church where she served as an Usher until 1950.  Upon relocating to Freeport, New York, she activated the principles of the church covenant and united with Greater Second Baptist Church.  For more than 50 years, she remained steadfast and unmovable while serving the Lord with gladness on the Usher Board.   She also traveled with the church overseas engaging in missionary ventures and spreading the gospel to less fortunate villages in several countries.  Over the years, she stayed the course—she was rooted and grounded in the Lord.

In 1956, Ella Mae was united in holy matrimony to he love of her life, Manfred Gregory.  Their union endured through the years and they were blessed with two wonderful children—Wanda and Nathaniel.   Ella Mae was a devoted wife and mother who looked well to the ways of her household and ate not the bread of idleness.  She was a persistent, hardworking individual whose work experiences include  a Nurse at Lydia E. Hall Hospital and a Counselor at Wayside School for Girls in Valley Stream, New York.  No matter what the task, she took great pride in a job well done.

Mother Gregory, as she was affectionately called by many,  was a very genuine and kind-hearted person with a warm and magnetic personality.  She gave of herself effortlessly and saw the highest potential  in everyone.  After moving back to Georgia in 2015, she continued her life of service to others and freely opened her heart and home to family and friends.  Her unwavering spirit, generosity, and unconditional love will forever be remembered.

On June 3, 2019, Mother Gregory was called from labor to reward in Columbus, GA.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Manfred Gregory, and two siblings, Cassie L. Wallace and Agnew Jones.

Loving memories will be forever cherished by her children, Wanda G. (Samuel) Robinson of Columbus, GA and Nathaniel (Angela) Gregory of New York; siblings, Harrison (Louise) Jones, Beatrice Jones, Bernice Johnson, and Maria Robinson all of Albany, GA, and Pastor Ernest (Patricia) Jones and James Jones both of St. Petersburg, FL; grandchildren and great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.