Elease M. Elliott was born to the late Jessie Benjamin and Mamie Martin on June 3, 1929 in McComas, West Virginia. She departed this life on Wednesday, October 23, 2013.
As a child she enjoyed school and attended Bluestone schools. After graduation, she attended Bluefield State College and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Early Education in 1951. She was initiated into Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, Delta Kappa Chapter in Bluefield, West Virginia. She moved to Columbus, Ohio in 1951 and held various jobs while seeking her teaching certification.
While in Columbus, Elease met and married James Taylor Dawson, II from Ashland, Kentucky in 1955. Their union was blessed with three children, each the joy of her life, James Taylor III, Jerry Allen, and John Wesley. As a mother, she consistently demonstrated a rarely seen level of unconditional love in the understanding of any situation and forgiving of any mistake.
Her devotion to her children was always her priority, she was a stay at home Mom for twelve years before beginning her teaching career. She began her teaching in 1967 within the Columbus Public School system. As an elementary school teacher, she taught and guided her students at Alum Crest, Heimandale, Reeb and Fornoff schools in Columbus, Ohio. Always committed to children learning she would often provide funds for arts instruction out of her own pocket. She received praise from school administrators for her commitment to ensure each child had a chance to succeed academically despite their challenges. She taught in the school system for 23 years retiring in 1990.
Later in life she met and married Lee Elliott in 1989, and extended her love to his children who were so special to her.
After retirement, she was able to fully devote herself to her favorite roles of “Grandmother” and “Great-Grandmother”. All three of her sons blessed her with wonderful grandchildren whom she doted over continuously. This outpouring of love was only paralleled by her pride and joy for her great grandchildren. The mere mention of their names brought an immediate smile to her face and would compel her to tell a story about them.
Throughout her life she demonstrated a sacrificial love for her family, continuously putting others before herself. Caring for family members was something that came naturally to her. Her welcoming spirit always provided for an open door and an extra seat at her table.
Her love for her family was only exceeded by her love for the Lord. As a Christian woman she lived a life of faith and was a living example of “I am my brother’s keeper”. Always yielding to serving others, she was a member of Southfield Baptist Church, Temple of Compassion, and the Berwick Church of God and later joined the First Church of God.
She was also active member of the Division of Actively Retired Teachers, Unity Charity Club, Prison Ministry and the Bluefield State College Alumni Association, Columbus Chapter.
Proverbs 31 reads, for “her children shall arise and call her blessed” this scripture is so reflective of her relationship with her son John. Their loving bond was so evident in the way in which he honored, protected and cared for her and strived to meet her every need. He never allowed the sun to set without “talking to or going by to see Mom”. This love was evident to anyone in their company and remains unchanged by time or distance.
She was preceded in death by: her parents, Jessie B. and Mamie Martin; siblings, Pauline (Eugene), Jessie Hilton (Sandra), Roger and Theron; first husband, James Taylor Dawson, II; sons, James Taylor, III, and Jerry Allen; and second husband, Lee Elliott.
She leaves to cherish her memory: her son, John Wesley (Angela) Dawson; niece, Monica (Oliver) Terry; children of her second marriage, Na’im (Ni’amah) Ziyad of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Greg (Rochelle) Ziyad of Columbia, Tennessee; grandchildren, Jaleia Dawson, Janvier (Sharif) Ward, Jerry Dawson, Jr., Khalil Tucker and Jelani Dawson; and great grandchildren, Amyia, Catori, Dawson, Zayden, Janessa, Zahara and Mekhi; special daughters, Della Dawson, Michelle Ohakim, and Kim Winfield; special friends Marilyn and Bob Wood; and a host of cousins too numerous to name but who she all truly loved.

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