Mary Ella Morgan was born Mary Ella Sallie to Wiley and Viola Mae Sallie on May 14, 1935, in Clarendon, Texas. To this union, the infamous “Sallie Sisters” were born: Charlesetta, Mary, and Rosie. Mary attended Clarendon High School, and moved to California in 1955, where she met and married Charlie T. Morgan. This union created a blended family of five children. Brenda, Charles Jr., Donna, Shantye, and Renee Morgan. 

Upon relocating to California, Charlie and Mary worked for the Thomas Organ Company in Van Nuys, California. After the business closed, Mary worked for years as an in-home child care provider, taking care of many children in the San Fernando Valley and surrounding areas, often whether they had money to pay her or not. In 1985, Mary joined the Los Angeles Unified School District as a cafeteria manager. She enjoyed interacting with staff and students and left a lasting impact on countless staff and students until she retired from LAUSD in 1998.

            Charlie and Mary were both members of the Independent Baptist Church of Los Angeles, but soon relocated with the late Rev. Cranford Richardson to become founding members of the Sunset Missionary Baptist Church of Los Angeles, California. At Sunset, Mary served faithfully for over 25 years as a member of the usher board, deaconess board, youth department supervisor, and the “Voices of Sunset” Mass Choir, until she relocated to Wichita Falls, Texas, after the death of her husband. Mary united with the New Jerusalem Baptist Church in 2000, serving faithfully for over 20 years with the Women’s Mission Outreach, Mission Chorus, Meals on Wheels, and Food Distribution ministries until her health began to fail her.

            Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Charlie T. Morgan Sr., sisters, Charlesetta Jones and Rosie Carter, sister-in-law Ellen Morgan, brothers-in-law Hezekiah Jones Sr., Stanford Carter Sr., Theotis Morgan, and Adolph Sweatt, a son-in-law, Edgar Jackson, and a grandson, Samuel Blackwell Jr.

            On Wednesday, June 26, the Lord called her home from labor to rest, after over 60 years of love and service to her family, friends, and all she encountered. She leaves to cherish her memory: a sister-in-law, Inez Sweatt, a son, Charles (Viola) Morgan Jr., daughters Brenda Gauch, Donna Jackson, Shantye (Anthony) Gates, and Renee (Samuel) Blackwell, a god-daughter, Sandrena Martin-Palm, grandchildren Charles III, Tyrone, Hezekiah, Anthony II, Bryson, Dallas, LaTera, Tevin, Asianna, Dominique, Tyeshan, Tamiyah, and Anthony III, 16 great-grandchildren, four great-great grandchildren, and a host of loving family, friends, and loved ones.