Ella Marquita Snowden

Mrs. Ella Marquita Snowden transitioned to her heavenly home on August 14, 2018 at the Providence Hospital Palliative Care Unit in Washington, DC.

Mrs. Snowden was born to Mattie Benjamin and Calvin McGruder on July 4, 1920 in Hale County, Alabama. She accepted Christ at an early age and joined the Liberty CME Church. She received her early education in the Hale County public schools where she graduated from high school and ultimately matriculated to and graduated from the Grady Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Atlanta Georgia, Ella began a long career in professional nursing of which she made a tremendous impact.
 

Early in her career she moved to Kansas City, KS and from Kansas she located to Washington, DC. where she continued a fantastic professional career in nursing at various hospitals the Nation’s Capitol-including: Providence Hospital, Freedman’s Hospital and Howard University Hospital.

 Because of her love of nursing and her professional expertise Ella soon became a trailblazer! She was the first African American surgical nurse on the staff at Providence Hospital. She was a charter member of the open-heart program at Howard University Hospital. She was a dedicated member of the organ transplant team in the hospital’s department of surgery, where she remained until retirement. Her commitment was realized and in 1985 Ella was awarded the Certificate of Appreciation for 35 years of dedicated service.

It was also in the nation’s capitol that she met and married the love of her life, James Snowden. From this union two children were born, daughter, Avis and son, Alvin Ortiz. Her love of God was second only to her love of family. For Ella, family meant everything. She relished traveling throughout the country, attending the McGruder Family Reunions, crocheting, fishing/crabbing on the Chesapeake Bay and attending to her garden. These activities enabled her to spend time sharing precious memories with the family she loved.

 Mrs. Snowden was an active member of Reid Temple AME Church for many years and was involved in their various ministries, until her illness dictated otherwise. In 1978, she organized and staffed the volunteer nurses unit to be on active duty during worship services. While serving as President, she implemented new ideas on how best to serve the membership in times of need-during the worship service. This ministry was very near and dear to her heart.

Ella was also an active member of the Lay organization and the Golden Reids. Over the years, she received numerous awards and accolades for her dedicated service, including an award in 2008 for Outstanding Layperson by the Washington Conference Lay Organization, African Methodist Episcopal Church 2nd Episcopal District.

Her devoted husband James and loving daughter Avis preceded Mrs. Snowden in death. She leaves to cherish the memories of her life and mourn her passing her beloved son, Alvin Ortiz Snowden, granddaughter, Marquita Murray, grandson, Bernard Ortiz Shanks, great grandchildren, Malakai and Makayla Calhoun and a host of relatives and friends.
 

Our beloved Ella will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

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