Ella Yvonne Maxwell

Ella Yvonne Brown Maxwell, daughter of the late Ernest and Eva Mae (Cowart) Brown, was born on August 3, 1945 in Alapaha, Berrien County, Georgia. She was the fifth of fourteen children. Ella or Yvonne, as she was affectionately called by her family, accepted Jesus Christ at an early age and rededicated her life to Jesus later as a young adult. She departed this life on Monday, January 5, 2026, at age 80 after complications due to dementia.

In May 1963, Ella earned the honor of graduating as Valedictorian of her class from Nashville High and Elementary School in Berrien County and was awarded a full academic scholarship to Albany State College (now University). She enrolled at Albany State in September 1963, and during her matriculation consistently received Dean's List Honors as well as recognition on the Who's Who Among Students In American Universities and Colleges. She also becamea member of the Gamma Sigma Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. In August 1966, Ella graduated a year early earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. She started her first teaching job in LaGrange, Georgia in September 1966.

When the next school year started in September 1967, Ella was settled in Orlando, FL where she had accepted a new teaching position in the Orange County Public School System. She primarily taught kindergarten, first and second grades her first few years and also pursued a graduate degree part-time. In March, 1977, Ella earned a Master of Education in Guidance and Counseling from the University of Central Florida, known at the time as Florida Technological University. Although she was later offereda position as a guidance counselor, she decided to remain in the classroom and moved to teaching fourth grade for the duration of her tenure. Ella was a gifted educator and well respected by the many peers and principals she served with in various schools over her career. Students alike adored her and would often return to visit her classroom, years later while in high school or college to simply say hello, share a warm memory or tell her thank you.

Many of those Ella touched through her years in education and beyond gave her a huge showing of love and support when she suffered an AVM brain aneurysm in November, 1994. By the grace of God and through the power of prayer, Ella survived, underwent successful brain surgery and a lengthy post operative recovery. She returned to the classroom, taught four more years and retired in June, 1998 after 31 years as an educator.

Ella married Johnny L. Maxwell on December 13, 1986, in Palatka, Florida. They were married 30 years until Johnny passed away suddenly of a heart attack in June, 2018. She and Johnny were regular churchgoers and had been longtime members of Orlando Christian Center under Pastor Benny Hinn and later Faith World Ministries under Pastor Clint Brown. After her husband Johnny passed, she left Florida for Maryland to be close to her only child, daughter Jennifer (Donald) and grandsons John and Andrew.

Ella was an extraordinary woman. She was the daughter of a Georgia sharecropper and his wife who had the intelligence and fortitude to propel her beyond the clay and cotton fields of her birth. Ella had values and virtues instilled by her parents that were rooted in Christian principles. This foundation allowed her to develop a personal relationship with the Lord; to know Him for herself. Ultimately, Ella became a well-educated, professional woman, who believed God's word, led many souls to the Lord and prayed countless prayers for others to be healed, protected, and blessed. Ella was extraordinary. May her memory and life be honored and celebrated. Remaining to cherish Ella's memory are her daughter Jennifer Lynne Mann (Donald); grandsons, John William Mann, Andrew Winston Mann; brothers and sisters, Vashti Ford, Ralph Brown, Gaileen Murray, Donald Brown, Eddie (Faye) Brown, Andre (Ruby) Brown, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Preceding Ella in death are her husband Johnny L. Maxwell; parents Ernest and Eva Mae (Cowart) Brown; brothers and sisters, Louis Carlton Brown (Choon Ja), Ernest Brown Jr. (Bessie Mae), Hyvonda Katrina Brown Bryant, Shelton Brown, Lawrence Brown, Anthony Brown, brother-in-law Coy Lynn Ford, sister-in-law Joan Brown.