Mary Lillian Ellison "The Fabulous Moolah" - Columbia, SC - Grave of a Famous Person on Waymarking.com

Mary Lillian Ellison was born on July 22, 1923 in Kershaw County, South Carolina. Lillian developed and interest in professional wrestling at a very early age and at the age of 15 she left home to train with Mildred Burke and Billy Wolfe. Early in her career she was the valet for “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers who dress her in leopard print ring attire and called her “Slave Girl Moolah.” After working for the Capitol Wrestling Corporation in the early 1950’s she won the National Wrestling Alliance Women’s World Championship in 1956 and began calling herself “The Fabulous Moolah. She would hold the title for almost 30-years. During her time as champion, Moolah would become perhaps the most powerful woman in professional wrestling. She developed a training facility in Columbia where would be wrestlers would come to live and train all the while paying Moolah for the opportunity. She would then handle the bookings and promotion of her girls while taking a hefty portion of their ring and appearance fees. In addition to training and booking wrestlers, Moolah continued to appear on the big cards throughout the country, demanding top dollar as the champion. In the 1980, Moolah signed with Vince McMahon, Jr., World Wrestling Entertainment where she was matched in a feud with singer Cindy Lauper. After months of promotion, Moolah with Captain Lou Albano in her corner met up and coming star Wendy Richter with Lauper in her corner. “The Brawl to End It All” was broadcast live on MTV and was one of the most watched shows of the year. Moolah lost to Richter ending her reign as World Champion. Moolah continued to wrestle for the WWE until the early 1990’s when she retired from ring competition, but continued to appear as a manager and talent manager for the WWE. The Fabulous Moolah died on November 2, 2007 in her hometown of Columbia, South Carolina. She is resting in specially designed plot in Columbia’s Greenlawn Cemetery.

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Description: Mary Lillian Ellison was born on July 22, 1923 in Kershaw County, South Carolina. She was the youngest of 5-children and grew up near Columbia, South Carolina. During her childhood her father to her to see professional wrestling matches. It was during one of these matches that she saw a women’s match and became interested in pursuing a career in the ring. At the age of 15, Lillian left home and training with Mildred Burke and Billy Wolfe. Early in her career she began dressing in leopard print ring attire and took the name “Slave Girl Moolah,” and served part-time as valet for “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers. In 1955, she began working for Vince McMahon, Sr., Capitol Wrestling Corporation. In 1956 she won the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) World’s Women’s Championship and started calling herself “The Fabulous Moolah.” For the Next 30-years Moolah recognized at the Women’s Wrestling Champion appearing in some of the largest arenas in the country. During this time she started a wrestling school for women in her hometown of Columbia South Carolina. She not only trained some of the most successful women in the business but also served as their booker and promoter taking a large cut of their match fees for training and booking services. From the mid 1950’s through the 1970’s, Moolah was the dominate woman in the business of professional wrestling, training, booking and promoting almost all of the women in the business. In the 1980’s Moolah entered into an exclusive agreement with Vince McMahon, Jr. World Wrestling Entertainment. During this time Moolah entered into a “feud” with singer Cyndi Lauper, who was paired with rising star Wendi Richter. After weeks of promoting and Moolah with Captain Lou Albano in her corner took on Richter with Lauper in her corner. “The Brawl to End it All was broadcast live on MTV and Moolah dropped the championship to Richter. For the next year Moolah and Richter continued their feud in packed houses across the country and on TV. Moolah basically retired from ring competition in the early 1990’s appearing only to promote matches and to “interfere” on behalf of her girls Judy Martin and Lelani Kai. On June 24, 1995, The Fabulous Moolah became the first female wrestler to be inducted into the World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame. The Fabulous Moolah died in Columbia South Carolina on November 2, 2007. She is resting in at the Greenlawn Memorial Park in Columbia, South Carolina. The specially designed plot is also the final rest place of long-time friend Mae Young and the future burial site of midget wrestler Katie Glass. Date of birth: 07/22/1923 Date of death: 11/02/2007 Area of notoriety: Entertainment Marker Type: Monument Setting: Outdoor Visiting Hours/Restrictions: Daily - 8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. Fee required?: No Web site: [Web Link]

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