Ethel Mae Mayo

On October 14, 1922, in Portsmouth, Virginia, a 22-year old Ella Hawkins married 28-year old Harry Miller. Harry’s dream was to become a farmer. He purchased several acres of land and built a two-room house, which he promised Ella would be the fist of many rooms on the great mansion. In the midst of building a great dynasty, Ella and Harry had eleven children, Evelyn, Luella, Virginia, Ethel, Irma, Matthew, Prevonce and Edward, (three daughters, Marie, Margaret Ann and Alberta Mary died in infancy). Harry departed his life on February 13, 1941 and Ella on December 14, 1984.The fourth child, Ethel Mae Miller was born on Christmas Day, December 25, 1929. Early on, she was a devoted child to her mother. At a very early age she became the little Mama for her three younger brothers, sister and niece Christine. She told many stories of washing and cooking for the younger ones to get them ready for school as her mother rose early in the morning to pick beets or potatoes in the families fields. One of her greatest sorrows was not being able to go to school on many occasions because one of the children was sick. She attended the local one room schoolhouse, and then on to the local high school, Norcum High in Portsmouth, Virginia. Ella moved to Laurel, Maryland with her youngest child and granddaughter. Ethel remained in Portsmouth caring for her four younger siblings.In 1947, Ethel married George Cotton Jr. and of that union was born Joseph Cotton-Miller, Sandra Cotton-Day, Delores Cotton-Moore, Hillary, Cornell and Veronica Cotton-Rainy. Ethel and her six young children later moved to Laurel to begin a new life and be closer to the mother she loved. Ethel and her sister Irma later moved to South Baltimore where Irma met and married Leroy Mayo. Leroy introduced his new sister-in-law to his brother Claude who was recently discharged from the Army. It was love at first sight and the rest is history. The family grew and Claude brought to the union his two stepchildren, Delores White, John White Mayo And his three daughters, Lillie Mae Smith, Barbara Ann May-Barkley and Ophelia Mayo Satterfield. Like the mother hen, Ethel spread her wings and embraced them all. She knew, understood and loved each one intimately. No matter what your joy, successes, failures or sorrows, she was there for each one. She was the doctor, lawyer, teacher, counselor and friend for everyone. She was our everything.When she joined St. Ann’s Church she found love, acceptance and whole new family. She was in heaven. She treasured the ladies groups that she held membership in, the sodality and Ladies Auxiliary of St. Peters Claver Chapter #331, and they elected her treasurer for both. She was a diligent and a faithful member in St. Ann’s Bible Study Class. She was determined to learn the Word, and often said, “I love God and I want to do his will to do good and help others.”Her favorite things were shopping at the rummage sales, gardening, redecorating her house with green, green and more green, shopping in the mall, Judge Judy and going to the Ladies Auxiliary conventions.In July of this year, Ethyl’s big heart began to show physical signs of wearing down.On Monday night, November 4, 2002, at the age of 72, God sent His angels of grace and mercy to greet Ethel right in the midst of conversation and whispered her name “Ethel Mae, good job Little Mama, come on in, I have a place for you, where you can plant all the flowers you want and redecorate all you want.

Tributes

Ethel Mae Mayo

December 25, 1929 - November 4, 2002