Ella Mae Hairston Bush, affectionately known to her family and friends as "Tootie," was born Ella Mae Bryson in the Hanestown community of Winston-Salem to the late James Jesse Lee Bryson and Addie Brown Bryson. Her 17 year old mother would pass six weeks after given birth due to complications and her dying wish was for her newborn child was to be raised by her maternal aunt and uncle Alberta Brown Hairston and Roy Hairston in the Arcadia Community of Clemmons, NC. Her father James would marry Grace Bryson in 1944 and they would also share in the raising through adolescence of Ella Mae.

She joined Goodwill Baptist Church in Arcadia at an early age and was active in junior missionary, the choirs, usher board, and sang with the Trumpeteers, a trio with her sisters Joanne and Julia. She would also later sing with The Spiritualettes who were known for their harmony and blend. As an adult she sang with The GBC Chorale, and served in various other ministries and as a senior worked in the audio ministry and enjoyed fellowship with the GBC SuperSonic Seniors.

She would join Great Commission Community Church in 2008 under the late P.A. Samuels and Gloria Samuels and served on the greeters and hospitality ministry until her health declined. She found new love among many of the young women in church who referred to her as 'Foxy,' who admired her for wit, sense of style, and humor.

She was educated during segregation at Thomas Elementary in Midway and was a proud 1961 graduate of Dunbar High School in Lexington and was active in the glee club, a majorette, and girls basketball team. She is fondly remembered for typing speed, long hair, love for dancing and spending many afternoons at her father's restaurant, The Du Drop Inn at the corner Dixie Street and Cotton Grove Road with her friends. She entered Winston-Salem Teachers College (now Winston-Salem State University) in the fall of 1961 pursuing a degree in Elementary Education.

As a young woman, she worked as a domestic for various families in the Arcadia community. She relocated to New York and joined First Baptist Church in Far Rockaway and served as an in-house domestic for Jewish families. She returned from NY and attended Russell's Business School earning a degree in Secretarial Science and Stenography in 1966 in Winston-Salem, NC and later earned a certificate from the Dale Carnegie Institute. She often cited the difficult task in finding work as a stenographer as many courts refused to employ black women. She found work as the Secretary of her Alma Mater, Dunbar High for the late Mr. A.B. Bingham and worked there until integration and later as a secretary and librarian for Lexington Senior High. She would retire from Lexington Housing Authority in 1996 after 26 years of service. She then worked for more than 10 years at Wachovia Bank and lastly for National Wholesale.

She married Johnny Bush in June 1968 and to this union was born one son and they would be married for 39 years until his death in 2007.

She and her husband moved to New Haven Drive in 1970 and was one of the first families in the neighborhood known as King Village, the second neighborhood in the City of Lexington which allowed African Americans to purchase a home. She has remained a fixture in this community for more than 50 years.

She was very active in civic engagement in the '70's and 80's with young women in the local housing projects, a secretary for the Lexington Boys Scouts Troop, and performed clerical work for the late Rev A.T. Evans of First Baptist Church of Tanyard Street. She served more than 30 years in the Leisurette Civic & Social Club, a woman's social club known for their annual debutante ball, record breaking fundraisers, annual bazaars, and teaching young women etiquette, home and professional skills. She also helped her late husband establish his construction company, Bush Builders.

She will be remembered for her love of dancing, style of dress, laughter, her high heels, love for her family and baking homemade cakes, tarts, cobblers and pies. She loved to travel whether it was to New Jersey to visit her brothers and their families, biannually with The Hairston Clan, and various family or church functions.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her biological and adoptive parents, devoted aunts/uncles who she credited with having a profound impact on her life to include Elizabeth and Dorce Hamilton Sr., Ida Goolsby and Nancy Hairston  and siblings: James Thomas Bryson, Dorce Hamilton Jr, Thomas Hamilton Sr., Joanne Hairston, Richard Hamilton and Jimmie Bryson, and a devoted brother-in-law, Rufus Cuthrell Sr. She was also preceded in death by two sister like friends Drusilla Owens and Betty Wellman.

She leaves behind one son, Jonathan Bush, and siblings Shirley Bryson (Edward Holly) of Linwood, Julia Hamilton of Greensboro, Alberta Cuthrell, of Advance and Geraldine (Leon) Wall of Emporia, VA.

She also leaves to cherish In-Laws to include: Alvaretta Bryson of Lexington, Shirley Hamilton of Winston-Salem, Alma Hamilton of Willingboro, NJ, Patsy Bush of Lexington, Ruby Bush Goodson of Winston-Salem, Annabelle Bush Corley of Bronx, NY, Claudine Bush Perkins of NY, New York, and Benjamin Bush of Winston-Salem.

Ella also leaves devoted nieces and nephews William (Virlyn) Hamilton, Robin Russell, Robin (John) Dyer, Byrdzetta Knotts, Hamilton Cuthrell (Kiona) and host of many more nieces and nephews who often referred to her as "Auntie," "Aunt Mae Mae," and "Glamour Girl" to name a few.

She leaves behind loving cousins, relatives and lifelong friends including Betty Godwin (Charles), John (Geraldine) Goolsby Jr., Ernestine Brown, Judy (Calvin) Richards,  Annestine (William) Reeves  and Wanda Craven.

Homegoing celebration will be on Saturday, March 2, 2024 at 2:00 PM Great Commission Community Church with family visitation at 1:00 PM