Ella Mae Hopson was born in Elizabeth, NJ on December 25,1929 to the late West Hopson, Sr. and Vessie (Grimsley) Hopson. She departed this earth on May 22, 2024.

She attended the Elizabeth Public School System and received her undergraduate and master's degrees from Rutgers University. She was a member of New Zion Baptist Church under Rev. BJ Whipper and Rev. Johnnie M. Green.

Ella moved to Linden, NJ where she was politically and physically active in the community. Her main objective was to make the school system more responsive to the needs of Black students. She spearheaded a storefront learning center with personal funds and community contributions, utilizing college students as tutors to assist elementary school students whose reading scores were extremely low.

The program was such a success that a proposal was submitted through Rutgers University to the State of New Jersey for a grant to expand the services. Thus, a high school equivalency program was instituted that made a real impact on the lives of the adult community and the youth. She successfully negotiated with owners of Garden State Brickface to construct a building for the Rutgers Education Center in Linden, NJ at no cost to the program.

After years of struggling with racist issues and the threat of being sent to prison by Linden city officials, Ella decided to accept an employment offer as a Reading Instructor with the Bahamian Government in Nassau Bahamas. During her time on the island, she established many friendships. Ella was blessed to travel and see many parts of the world, including China, Cuba and Africa.
After returning to Elizabeth, NJ, she became actively involved in politics. She served as committeewoman for a number of years. She also served as President for the Neighborhood Preservation Residents Organization, Inc. (NPRO). Her passion for change motivated her to run for political office on several occasions. Although she never won, she played a major role in the Elizabeth mayoral election that defeated Thomas Dunn Sr. in 1992. She also played a significant role in the election of the present 5thWard Councilman. She mentored many young men and women with political aspirations who ultimately became city officials. She was an ardent believer in the system's responsibility to provide a functional education for all children and felt that politics was an important ingredient in making that happen.

After retiring from the school system, she moved to Florida in 2006 where she relaxed, traveled, and welcomed her family and friends when they visited. However, her greatest joy of life was talking to and spending time with her great-grands, Skylar and Davis.
Ella was a true warrior who fought life's battles head on.  She remained strong, witty and resilient to the very end.

She was preceded in death by her parents, son; Keith Meighan and seven siblings; Essie Thomas, Agnes Moore, Claire Miller, Burley Hopson, Willie Hopson, West Hopson, Jr., and Edward Hopson.

She leaves to cherish her memories, her sisters; Alice Hopson and Bernice Sampson, her brother; Phillip Hopson (Jean), her son; Bert Meighan, Jr. (Sonya), her grandchildren; Alaquah Meighan, Akbar Meighan, Alrad Lewis, Keba Thomas, and Melissa Dillon (Derrick) and her great-grandchildren as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Services for Ella Mae are in the care of Coral Springs Funeral Home. Please share your memories or leave your condolences with this online guestbook.