Ella Mae Jackson was born February 6, 1912 in Atlas, Texas in Lamar County.  The daughter of Felix Jackson and Rhoda Jones Shaw, Ella Mae had three brothers Luther White, Gilbert Jackson, Jack Jackson and one sister Rose Jackson.  She later married J.D. Hill of Cooper Texas.  They were married for 27 years.

Ella Mae moved to Cooper, Texas with her family at age eight. She lived in Cooper until 2004 and then moved to Dallas with family.  She had two children a son, James Earl Roseman and daughter, Bonnie Jean Sibley .  Ella Mae had four grandchildren, Loretta Hart Harlen, Linda Hart Phillips, Barbara Hart Gray and Clayborn Hart , eight great-grandchildren, six great-great grandchildren and five great-great great grandchildren.

She accepted Christ at an early age, and joined New Zion Baptist Church, Cooper, Texas.  After moving to Dallas, she joined Cornerstone Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas.   She worked in cotton fields of Delta County. She was a homemaker, and an amazing cook.  Her favorite hobbies were entertaining friends and family, cooking, and sewing.  Her love for cooking and nurturing her family was uncompromising.

The blueprint of her life has been raising her children, grandchildren, and her love for her nieces and nephews. She prides herself for instilling the importance of family and her faith in God. Her purpose in life was "loving people" and working with the children in her community.