Obituary of Ella Von Newman

ELLA’S JOURNEY On Thursday, March 8, 1934, Ella Von (Thompson) Newman began her earthly life when she was born to William H. Thompson and Mildred W. Thompson in Meridian, Mississippi. Ella accepted Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior at an early age as a member of Bethel Baptist Church in Meridian and her faith never wavered. She married her partner for life, Sidney Mack Newman on May 26, 1952 and together they raised five children. Because of Sidney’s military service, they were able to live in a number of places around the world including Fort Worth, Texas, Lompoc, California, Puerto Rico, Japan and Taiwan before Sidney was assigned to and retired at Beale AFB in Yuba County, California. She treasured education and as a result built a love of reading in her descendants. Regular trips to the library fostered a passion for knowledge and learning in all of her children that carried through to her grandchildren. But her never ending faith served as the foundation for the entire family to develop their own relationships with God and let him lead the way in their lives. Her giving nature and genuine kindness nurtured an empathy exhibited in her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren today. Through these qualities she built an extended family, including those who lovingly and affectionately called her “Mom Newman”. Her chosen career was to be a good wife and mother…and she was exceptional. Ella was a faithful member of Grace Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Shelby R. Richards, Pastor and Rev. Earl Moore, Associate Pastor. She took great pride in being African-American and in her own quiet way she was an activist for change. She brought this passion into organizing many of the church’s events for Black History month. She loved gospel music, was a lifetime member of the church choir and for many years attended the New Orleans Jazz Fest where she settled herself for hours in the Gospel tent singing in her high soprano vibrato along with the various choirs and artists to many of her favorite songs. Her parents preceded Ella in death. On Thursday, October 18, 2018 she decided to go home for her eternal rest and perpetual gospel. Ella’s essence of warmth, understanding, support, unconditional love and joyful laugh will remain forever in the hearts and memories of those that remain: Sidney Mack, her husband and love of 66 years; her children Brenda-Joyce, Michael James (Barbara), Sidney Mack, Jr. (Elena), Natalie Yvonne and Nellie Yvette; her grandchildren Sidney Mack III (Jennifer), Alyssa Marie, Katrina Lanae and Marisa Leanne; and her great-grandchildren Savanna Lynn and Jaelyn Nicole; her sisters Eartha Wells and Beverly Thompson; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.