She was born Ella Henson about 1890. Her father, Isaac Henson was born in Fannin County, Georgia, in 1855. He married Margaret Mirinda Boatner, born 1857 in Georgia, on January 1, 1890. They were married in Fannin County.

Their family tree lists only one child, Rebecca E. Henson, born 1890. This must be Ella. In later life some called her Ellen.

Ella married Jack Winters and when the 1920 Census was taken, they lived in Vans Valley, Floyd County, Georgia. At that time they had one child, Robert, age 1.

The 1930 Census listed Ella as a widow with two children: Robert, age 12, and Gordon, age 9. Ella's father, Isaac Henson, then age 79, was also listed in Ella's household. They lived at Spring Place.

As she aged everyone called Ella "Granny Winters."

Somehow she managed to buy two acres of land from Sanford Davis, on what is today called the Barney Pearce Road. Around 1946 she bought a two-room house that she had been renting about a half-mile away and had it taken apart and moved to this land, then reassembled. A third room was added. She lived there for many years with her divorced son, Gordon, and grandson Arvil Winters. Her other son, Robert, also lived adjacent to his mother.

Later Granny Winters moved to Dalton, where she eventually died.

Murray County Families