Shares

Can you imagine living a century? Not many of us are even lucky enough to see a fraction of that time. And those who are lucky enough to either live that long or to know someone who’s lived that long, undoubtedly has some amazing stories to share. That’s why, as we close out Black History Month, we are honored to say “Happy Birthday” to Mrs. Ida Mae Ellison, who just turned 100 years old!

Ida Mae was born to Elton and Lorene Porter in Gonzalez, Texas on Feb. 22, 1922.

After grade school, she attended Prairie View A&M University, where she obtained her cosmetology license. She then moved back to Gonzalez and started her own popular beauty salon – Ida’s Beauty Salon – which was built in her parent’s backyard by her father.

Photos of Ida Mae throughout the years provided by Lott family

She married Willie B. Lott and had her first son, Willie C. Lott, who became a Major in the United States Army and an architectural engineer for DuPont. He has since retired from both.

Later, she married Charles Ellison, also from Gonzalez, and gained a “bonus daughter,” Mary Richard. Together, they had a son, Carl Ellison, who is a mortician currently living in San Antonio.

A few years ago, Mrs. Ellison moved to Houston to live with her son Willie and his wife, Jereland Lott, after rehabbing from a fall.

She now lives independently at Mason Creek Transitional Care of Katy, where she enjoys bingo and talking with her friends.

On Tuesday, the new “centenarian” was surrounded by the amazing caregivers at Mason Creek, her fellow residents and loved ones as a grand party was thrown in her honor.

Everyone who knows her says the way this “sassy senior” handles herself, they are sure she has plenty more years to gift the world with.

What can we say, “Happy Birthday Ida Mae!”

We should all be so lucky to live a long and healthy life — and with such fantastic hair!