Life began for Ella Pearl Perteet on August 14, 1942, in Birmingham, Alabama. She was one of eleven children to the late Mr. and Mrs.
Lonnie Perteet. She loved the Lord and confessed Christ at an early age under the leadership of the late Reverend O.J. Jackson at Macedonia 17th Street Baptist Church. Ella served as a Matron and was a member of Sunday School.

Ella was educated in the Birmingham City School System. She attended Lincoln Elementary School and graduated from Parker High School with the class of 1960. She furthered her education at Lawson State College, where she received her educational degree in Licensed Practical Nursing. She began her career at Caraway Methodist Hospital. Upon leaving there, she was employed at Birmingham VA Medical Center for many years before retiring. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lonnie Sr. and Asaline Perteet; sisters, Mary Williams and Glenda Howard; and brothers, Lonnie Perteet, Jr., Leroy Perteet, Irvin Perteet, and Patrick Perteet. She leaves to cherish her memories: sons, Jesse (Marquita) Knight of Columbia, SC, and Hiram Knight of Martinez, CA; daughters, Zandra (Culbert) Leverett of Birmingham, AL, and
Eunice (Arthur) Ward of Pensacola, FL; granddaughter, Zanetta Leverett of Birmingham, AL; grandsons, Culbin Leverett of Birmingham, AL, and Jacoby Ward of Pensacola, FL; sisters, Patricia Perteet of Birmingham, AL, Roxie Perteet of Detroit, MI, and Joyce Perteet-Lake of Oakland, CA; brother, Robert (Earnestine) Perteet of Detroit, MI; godbrother, Albert Harris of Millersville, MD; aunt, Hannah Mitchell of Warrensville
Heights, OH; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and the Macedonia Church Family.