[EllaEm's Soul Food - North Las Vegas, NV Ella Rea Gray was born on January 20, 1913, in Clay County, Mississippi. She was the oldest daughter of Jennie Lou Davidson and John Gray. With segregation at its height, the Gray family sought solace and togetherness through love, laughter, and of course cooking. Ella Rea kept her head in the books completing her 9th grade education when the average grade for African-Americans at that time was 3rd grade. She was just as steadfast in learning the ingredients in the meals prepared by her mother. ]