An African American centenarian shares wisdom from a life well lived An inspirational, dynamic, and one-of-a-kind woman, Ella Mae Cheeks Johnson's ordinary life has been nothing less than extraordinary throughout the course of her 105 years. The oldest living black graduate of Case Western Reserve University, Ella Mae is the child of former slaves who has experienced the best and worst of the past century, including the 2009 presidential inauguration, which she memorably attended last January. Through it all, she has endured-and thrived-by believing that compassion is the key to the good life. In Ella Mae, she shares her insights on living a long and enjoyable life and her hopes for the future.