Mother Mae Ella Amos

Reflections on the Life of Mae E. Amos Maella Chinn was the first born of twins – Maella and Estella. She was born on November 27th in Cusseta in Chattahoochee County, Georgia, to the late Emma Lou Chinn Kelsey. She and her other siblings Egie Chinn (Janice Wright), Estella Chinn (Julius Anderson), and Robert Chinn (Marlene Wright), resided with their grandparents George Washington and Bettie Reese Chinn on a farm in Militia District 1104, Chattahoochee, Georgia. This farm was located on the United States Military Reserve. In 1943, Maella and her siblings relocated to Ayer Massachusetts to join their Mother, and Father, Charles William Kelsey and their newest sibling Charles William Kelsey, Jr to become the blended Kelsey/Chinn Family. In 1948, the Boston Herald reported that the Kelsey twins, with the Ayer Girls Basketball team of the Wachusetts League were the “first girls basketball team to play at the Boston Garden”. The Ayer team eventually pulled out an upset win over the Lunenburg team. The news was reported in all the major Boston newspapers. Maella and her twin sister Estella were not only the first women, but also the first ‘black’ women to play in the Boston Garden. Maella and her family moved to a home on Walnut Avenue in Roxbury. It was at this point Maella changed her name to Mae Ella. In 1949 she graduated from Roxbury Girls High School. She joined the New Hope Baptist Church under the pasturage of the late Rev. S. B. Brown. On July 23rd 1950 Mae Ella was joined in wedlock to Eddie Lee Amos by the Rev. S. B. Brown. To this union four daughters and one son were born; Ruby Regina Amos, Esther Lee Amos (Abdus-Salaam Muhammad), Sheila Mae Amos, Karen Cleyo Amos (Ernest Rezendes) and Eddie Lee Amos Jr (Sharon Young). Mae worked diligently to raise her family and support her husband Eddie, who in 1951 was called to the ministry. He was ordained in August 1963 and called to Pastor the Shiloh Baptist Church in September of 1963. Mae assisted her husband tirelessly in his work at their Church. She loved her Church.   On May 30, 1969, Mae mourned the passing of her husband and was left with five children to raise. She returned to school to obtain her Home Health Aid Certification and joined the workforce as a homemaker. She was dearly loved by her clients. In later years, she returned to school to become a Certified Nursing Assistant and was employed at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. She was passionate about her work there. Often giving a little extra; styling hair, cooking desserts, sewing clothing, etc., in order to help her patients. She retired from Spaulding in 1992. Mae remained steadfast in the support of her Church. She was one of the founding members of the Blue Hills Missionary Baptist Church. She served in many roles in the Church from treasurer, secretary, junior choir director, Sunday school superintendent, and missionary. In 1970 Mae created a scholarship fund in memory of her late husband. She worked industriously; sewing, cooking and selling her wares, to fund the initial scholarships. This fund is still in existence today and gives scholarships to assist high school graduates, and/or current college students, who are active in the church. In 2012 Mae was named as Mother of the Blue Hills Missionary Baptist Church. And in February of 2016, the Church, pastored by Reverend Lloyd, celebrated Mae’s many contributions to her Church by hosting an Appreciation Service. The theme was “Still Standing,” which exemplified Mae’s perseverance and steadfast support. Mae left this earthly life at 8:30pm on Sunday, April 5th and started her eternal life with her Lord. Mourning her passing are: Her Siblings: sister Estella Anderson, and her brother Charles W. Kelsey Jr; Her Children: daughter, Ruby R. Amos; her daughter, Esther L. Muhammad and her husband Abdus-Salaam; her daughter Sheila M. Amos; her daughter Karen C. Rezendes and her husband Ernest; her son Eddie L. Amos and his wife Sharon. Her Grandchildren: Karim Muhammad (Anitra), Abdus Muhammad, Zakiyyah Muhammad, Hakim Muhammad (Khadijah), Breanne Rezendes, and Preston Amos. Her Great Grandchildren: Akira Muhammad, Kiara Muhammad, Amayyah Muhammad, John Wesley Simmons IV, Amari Muhammad, Amirah Muhammad Her Nieces and Nephews: Lois Austin, Barbara Austin-Lucas, Robert Austin, Linda Dykes, Adrianne Floyd, Robert Kelsey, Pamela Kelsey-Foote, Rhonda Kelsey, Sharon Kelsey-Davis, Candace Kelsey, Charles Kelsey III, Stacey Kelsey, Christopher Kelsey, Gabrielle Kelsey-Worth, Janice Chinn, Kevin Chinn, Darren Chinn, and many more. Her lifetime friends: Barbara Culbreath, Mae Helen Barnes and Katie Thompson; her Goddaughter LaDonna Gaylor; her Church Sisters and Brothers; and a host of extended family and dear friends.