Ella Smith Downing Charitable Scholarship fund

A career in social work and teaching meant that Ella Smith Downing was no stranger to helping others.  She was born and raised in the Cedar Creek community of Cumberland County.  After college, she taught school, worked with the United Services Organization (USO) during and after World War II and did a great deal of traveling.  Once she obtained her Master of Science in Social Work, she continued to help others through the social services system.  Her work showed Ella a need she knew existed; a college education was important but not always financially accessible

She learned of Cumberland Community Foundation from her accountant, Charlie Johnson and her attorney J. Duane Gilliam.  Ella believed in not being wasteful with money and she knew that the foundation would honor her wishes.

With a bequest from Ella’s estate, the Ella Smith Downing Charitable Scholarship was established in 2005.  Through this fund, Cumberland Community Foundation is able to carry out Ella’s wishes to provide funds for needy students from Cumberland, Robeson, Bladen and Hoke counties who desire to attend Methodist University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill or Duke University.

Duane Gilliam remembers Ella as a “good person who came from a good family.  She lived a good and fulfilling life, and upon her death she left her estate for a good and worthy purpose.”  Cumberland Community Foundation is pleased to be able to carry out Ella’s wishes and we will do the same for you. 

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