Ila grew up in Mobile, Alabama, the only child of working-class parents. She was educated in the public school system and worked her way through Auburn University with both a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters of Science degree in clinical psychology from Auburn University and worked as a psychologist at the University of Alabama Medical Center before entering the US Army.

As a US Army officer for 26 years, Ila successfully commanded Army units at the company, battalion, and brigade level. She graduated from the Command and General Staff College and the Army War College, an executive level school for senior military officers.

Ila came to the peninsula in 1994 as the Garrison Commander of Presidio of Monterey. She was responsible for all facilities and services such as public safety and public works at the Presidio and former Fort Ord and represented the Army on the Ft Ord Reuse Authority Board. She also served as Installation Commander and Commandant of the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center.

Choosing Marina as home in 1997, Ila’s community service began with the Marina Larger Library Committee, Marina’s City Services and Improvement Commission, Board of Directors for Girl Scouts of Monterey Bay and the World Affairs Council. Her public elected service began in 1998 with election to City Council serving as community advisor to the Coalition of Homeless Services Providers, AMBAG representative and member of the League of California Cities’ Housing and Economic Development Policy Committee.  She is active in service organizations such as the Marina Rotary, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Marina Chamber of Commerce, Marina Teachers and Public Safety Appreciation Committees, and the CSUMB Women’s Leadership Council as well as serving on the Boards of Community Human Services, United Way and Monterey County Volunteer Center. Ila was elected Mayor in 2002 and was re-elected as Mayor in 2004 and 2006. She served as the Chair of the Fort Ord Reuse Authority Board for two terms and continues to represent the County on the governing Board.