Ohio centenarian to celebrate 105th birthday at inauguration

[snowbear]

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CLEVELAND (AP) — Ella Mae Johnson hasn't just paid attention to American history, she's lived it.

And come Jan. 20, she'll be part of the crowd to witness president-elect Barack Obama make history.

At 104 years young, the black woman from Cleveland plans to celebrate her 105th birthday by attending Obama's inauguration a week later. Johnson was invited by Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat from Cleveland, at the suggestion of Johnson's retirement home.



It is fitting that she should mark her 105th birthday this January by witnessing the swearing in of our nation's first African-American president," Brown said in a statement. "I am honored to be part of her journey and humbled by her legacy."

Johnson, who was born in Dallas, experienced and overcame racial prejudice in America throughout the last century. She graduated from Nashville's Fisk University in 1925 and went on to get a master's degree at Western Reserve University School of Applied Social Sciences in 1928. The school is now known as Case Western Reserve University.

Continued: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-12-27-centenarian-inauguration_N.htm?csp=34

Happy 105th Birthday to Ella Mae ~~ And KUDOS to Senator Sherrod Brown!

[ddeclue]

1. cool..

:toast:

[snowbear]

2. If Miss Ella Mae reads DU (and I'm sure she does).. I'll bet she's thanking you ddeclue...

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--- for being the ONLY DU'er to acknowledge the fact that she'll be spending her 105th birthday at President Obama's inaugeration.



Everybody (except for ddeclue) gets a two minute minor!

~~~~~~~~~~~

[OhioBlue]

3. What a wonderful story!

105!! OMG - what a life that woman must have lived. It is incredible that at her age she will be able to travel to D.C. and witness such an event. Kudos to Senator Brown is right. He is just an awesome Senator. He makes me proud all the time.

[snowbear]

5. Ohio is so lucky these days...

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So many awesome Democrats!!


....

(there's so many it would take all night to add their photos!! )

And sigh.. I still miss Paul Hackett too..

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. What a wonderful story, on so many levels!

She lives in Ohio, which was pivotal in giving Obama the presidency!

She has seen so much history, a lot of it awful, and now it's getting better for African-Americans...

And it's near her birthday!

What a trifecta!

And a hearty thank you to Sherrod Brown, for inviting her to this momentous occasion!


K&R

:patriot:

[firedupdem]

6. Happy Birthday Ella Mae! She looks great too! n/t

[snowbear]

7. Governor Strickland, you have some damn nice peaches!

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~ ~

[angee_is_mad]

8. Proof, Black don't crack!!!!!!

She likes at least 20 years younger. You go GIRL:fistbump:

May I be just as blessed one day.

[FrenchieCat]

9. What a Beautiful Woman......and doesn't look a day over 80!

:wow:

[Joe the Liberal]

10. Wow.......

and I thought John McCain was old! I wonder how she did it, like whats her secret to living that long, 105 years is a loooooooooooooong time. Anyways good for her I hope she enjoys the inauguration.

[AtomicKitten]

11. What a wonderful way to celebrate a birthday. Congratulations Ella Mae!!

K&R