About The Place
A Homeplace for Story, Spirit, and Creative Legacy
The Place has always meant more than a building. For the McElroy family, it was a nickname that reverberated with pride. Born from the collective name of the collective entrepreneurial enterprises of Tina’s father, Walter “B.B” McElroy, it signaled possibility. It signaled community. It signaled that something meaningful lived there for the McElroy family and many Macon natives.
Today, The Place lives again as the beating heart of the Tina McElroy Ansa Estate — a sanctuary where story, memory, creativity, and Black Southern brilliance are honored and carried forward. A place where the soul and spirit of our family live on.
Why The Place Exists
After Tina passed in 2024, our family felt a deep calling to continue the work she began. The creation of The Tina McElroy Ansa Estate is our way of carrying her voice, her vision, and her generosity into the future.
Through the Estate, The Place becomes:
A Symbol of Her Roots: A tribute to the Macon homeplace and the entrepreneurial spirit that shaped her.
A Sanctuary for Creative Community: A welcoming space that reflects the way Tina lived by gathering people, nurturing artists, and holding stories with care.
A Home for Legacy Work: Programming, preservation, educational opportunities, and community-centered initiatives that honor Tina’s mission: storytelling, teaching, and building beloved community.
This is not simply a memorial. It is a living continuation of her life’s work.
Watch The Place Dedication
Video credit: Roger Parsons
On November 15, 2025, we welcomed friends, family, and fans of Tina for a weekend of celebration in honor of what would have been her 76th birthday. We are so grateful to those who joined us and contributed their love, talents, and presence which filled The Place with the joyful energy that will make it a literary and artistic mainstay.
Together we began crafting the vision for What You’ll Find at The Place. Our collective envisioned:
Events & Gatherings: Readings, book talks, celebrations, and communal moments rooted in creativity and connection.
Honoring Her Legacy: Exhibitions, archives, oral histories, and storytelling initiatives that preserve Tina’s contributions for future generations.
Retreats and workshops: Opportunities and educational experiences for writers and artists of all ages.
Cultural and historic collaborations: Initiatives that bring the intergenerational community to The Place and preserve it as a national historic landmark.
Mentoring and Giving Back: Tina’s Good Lil’ School Girls offering support to writers at collegiate, high school, and middle school levels
Children’s Literature and Programming: Books, literacy programming, and field trips that share the legacy of Tina with students
And so much more…
We want your voice.
Your memories.
our ideas.
We invite you to help shape what The Place becomes because the community Tina built in life is the community that will carry her forward.
As we step into this sacred work, we want to thank the many who colored Tina’s life with joy and dreaming. Your friendship, your stories, and your belief in her helped her shine even brighter. As we build The Place in her honor, we invite you to co-create with us.
Tina believed that information is power and that love is strength. Through this Estate, both will endure.
— With love and gratitude,
The McElroy Family
Enjoy these Photos of The Place Dedication
Photo credit: Roger Parsons
We are delighted to share a selection of images captured by our official photographer, Roger Parsons, who tenderly documented the beauty and community that filled The Place throughout the weekend.
Click here to explore the full Photo Gallery
Please include Photo Credit: Roger Parsons when sharing.
We invite you to download and share these images along with your personal reflections.
If the weekend stirred something in your spirit—memory, inspiration, gratitude—we would be honored to witness it.
Please tag us when you post:
Facebook — @TinaMcElroyAnsaEstate
Instagram — @tinamcelroyansaestate
Words of Blessing from Dr. Johnnetta Cole
We were humbled to have had these generous remarks shared by the incomparable Dr. Johnnetta Cole as the closing to The Place’s Dedication. Special Thank You to Tina’s longtime friend Wanda Lloyd for conducting this profound conversation.
The McElroy Family and Estate Extend Special Thank You’s To:
Ms. Wanda Lloyd – Visionary & Head Collaborator
Maria & Kelsi McElroy – Initial Design & Development
Rae Chesny – Strategist & Consultant to the Estate, Lit & Co Consulting Group
Cameron Chesny – Junior Assistant & Joy-Bringer
Shelby Lloyd Cotton – Events Coordinator, “Niece” of TMA
Charles Spry, Owner Spry Global Construction/Renovation
Greg Milner – Grounds & Operations, GBM Enterprise
Odell Riley – Catering, Owner of The Black Pearl Food Truck
Marc & Ebony Lewis – Design / Support, Lavin Wine Bar
Lillian Grant Baptiste– Master Storyteller & Celebrant
Dr. Johnnetta Betsch Cole – President Emerita, Spelman College
Tubman Museum – Director & Staff, Venue Partnership & Support
Stanley Stewart – Commissioner, District 3, Macon, GA
Kara Walker – Executive Director, Morehouse College Human Rights Film Festival
Roger Parsons – Digital Creator & Photographer
Jen Marshall – Investor Relations, Greater Macon Chamber of Commerce
Michelle Rogers – Media & Support
Your contributions made this dedication not only possible, but unforgettable.