Elzola Stanley

Elzola Stanley

Sept. 23, 1935 - Dec. 12, 2023

MADISON - Elzola Stanley was born to Ted and Alberta (nee: Perry) Ford in Sprotts, AL, on September 23, 1935. As the third daughter in a family that would eventually total nine children (six girls and three boys), Elzola often said she was treated like her father's first son, working with him in the fields, proving her strength and showing her spirit. Her father's loss, when she was 13, was a formative experience in her life. Elzola's faith journey began at the tender age of nine when she accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior.

On October 19, 1952, she entered into holy matrimony with Leotha Stanley, and from their union, three children were born: Jeranice, Lora, and Leotha Aubrey (born when Elzola was 17, 19 and 21 respectively). In 1953, the family relocated to Milwaukee, WI, where Elzola embarked on a lifelong commitment to education. She first completed her GED at MATC before pursuing higher education at Cardinal Stritch University, earning a bachelor's degree in Education. She ultimately taught for over thirty years within the Milwaukee School Systems.

By the time she was 25, Elzola was a young mother of three, and going to school and working multiple jobs (including as a maid in homes in communities she would not have been able to enter otherwise). She said there were years where she slept only two hours a night. As with the lessons she learned during the years of sharecropping with her father, this time period reinforced a sentiment that would be the standard of her life - you keep going no matter what. Elzola's passion for learning extended beyond the classroom, and she became a master of creativity, showcasing her talents as a skilled seamstress, florist, and nail technician.

She had an innate love for beautiful things and a perpetual desire to acquire new skills. Elzola loved her family and valued each opportunity to keep them connected. When her mother and younger siblings moved north from Alabama, they moved to Milwaukee, where Elzola and Leotha had a property with two homes on it in an emerging Black community (a property that is still in the family to this day). For those of us who really knew her, Elzola was a fearless force to be reckoned with. She was the go to person when times were hard. Family has often joked that if you lost a limb, you wanted her there because she'd have your tourniquet tied, she'd be making sure the medical staff was taking proper care of you and she'd let them know why they needed to bring you better food. Elzola was a trailblazer for decades, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of those she touched.

She and her family were a part of history, moving North in the Great Migration. She was committed to the promotion of youth development in her community and was awarded recognition on radio and newspapers in the 60s. She also contributed to the transformation of her community, through her activism, marching with her children for open housing and school integration.

Elzola and her family became cherished members of Tabernacle Community Baptist Church in 1953, where they actively participated in various ministries. She contributed her talents to the Health and Wellness Ministry, Usher's Ministry (including the United Ushers), Gospel Choir, creative design of floral decor, the Dorca Ministry, Women's Ministry, and served as a member of Church Women United. She was unbending on the things she was passionate about, like where she sat in church (or anywhere else).

Elzola is survived by her sister, Berta L. (Willie) Harrison; brother, Roosevelt (Melvia) Ford; daughters: Jeranice (Bob Allen) Stanley, Lora Sall; son, Leotha Aubrey (Tamera) Stanley; her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great- grandchildren, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and friends. Elzola was preceded in death by her husband, Leotha Stanley; father, Ted Roosevelt Ford; mother, Alberta Ford; sisters: Allean Revonia Mosley, Magnolia Cutts Pulliam, Ethel Mae Ford, and Mary Peterson; and brothers: Esthetial Ford, and Alfonzia Akquia.

As we mourn the loss of Elzola, let us also celebrate her rich legacy - a legacy of love, faith, creativity, and a commitment to lifelong learning. Elzola was a woman forged by the times in which she lived. At times, her life brought her to the edge of her physical and emotional capacities and beyond. But she embodied the lessons she had learned about loyalty, family, community, demanding the best from yourself and the world around you and always to keep going no matter what. Her memory will forever live on in the hearts of those who were privileged to know and love her.

Condolences can be left at www.fosterfuneralhomes.com.