Ella Louise Wilson’s son, Lester W. Wilson and wife Barbara, along with her nieces Jerry Spruell and Clara Albritton and husband Lewis, and her nephew James Smallwood and wife Georgia, brought together family and friends and gave her a grand 93rd birthday celebration on March 9, at the Washington Civic Center. Family and friends were greeted by hostesses, who are members of Davis Chapel MB Church.

Lewis Albritton escorted Wilson into the beautifully decorated Civic Center to music played by Timothy Boyd on keyboard and Josh Moore on drums and seated her at the guest table. The Civic Center was adorned with yellow roses, red roses, and purple begonias. Tables were decorated with purple diagonal table runners complementing white tablecloths and purple weighted centerpieces with purple and white floating, helium filled balloons anchored to them.

The Mistress of Ceremony, Stefanie Z. Smith, her great-niece, did an excellent job presiding the celebration. Reverend Pugh, pastor of Davis Chapel MB Church, opened with a prayer and blessed the food. A delicious dinner of roasted turkey, minced turkey barbeque, barbecued-pulled turkey, baked pork ham, fried chicken, collards seasoned with pig tails, collards seasoned with turkey, string beans seasoned with turkey broth, rice, gravy, macaroni and cheese, along with desserts: birthday cake, baked and decorated by Dianne Lee, and an assortment of cakes and desserts by Davis Chapel Church Choir and congregation were served.

Family and friends serenaded the birthday lady with songs led by Catherine Chapman and Davis Chapel Choir with Boyd on keyboard and Moore on drums and a “Remember When” skit by Michelle Langley and members of Davis Chapel.

Stefanie Smith gave expressions followed by family and friends with expressions and gifts. Presentations followed by Louise’s son, Lester Wilson. He presented red roses to Wilson, yellow roses to Louise’s Sisters-in-law, red roses to Wilson’s oldest nieces, and purple begonias to her oldest nieces.

Wilson gave remarks and thanked her family and friends for sharing her 93rd birthday with her. Family and friends then danced to the sweet music of the 40’s and 50’s played by Wilson’s grandson, Wyhidi Wilson and wife Michelle. Family and friends from New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Florida attended the celebration.