Honorary Flower AttendantsNieces
Flower AttendantsSt. Paul Missionary Baptist Church Mission Board
Sis. Linda Cornell, ChairmanSt. Paul Missionary Baptist Church Board of Ushers
Sis. Maggie Hudson, President
Honorary PallbearersSt. Paul Missionary Baptist Church Board of Deacons
Dea. Alex Cornell, ChairmanSt. Paul Missionary Baptist Church Board of Trustees
Bro. Dr. Rufus Ellis, Jr., Chairman Nephews
Active PallbearersBro. Frankie Bowden
Bro. J.B. CornellBro. Tony Cornell
Bro. Dr. Reginald Ellis
Bro. Christopher JonesBro. Keith Jones
Bro. Roscoe Jones, Jr.Bro. Sammy Lawton
IntermentSt. Paul M.B. Church Historic Cemetery
(The Sixteen Community)Whigham, Georgia 39828
The Family AcknowledgementThe family wishes to express their gratitude for the many kindness evidenced in
thought and deed, and for the attendance at this celebration of life service.
Arrangements By
Celebration of Life Servicefor
Sunrise SunsetOctober 31, 1943 November 19, 2019
Monday, November 25, 201911:00 AM
St. Paul MiSSionary BaPtiSt ChurCh1475 Harrell Road
(The Sixteen Community)Whigham, Georgia 39897
Reverend Thomas Garland, Officiating and Pastor
Brother Roosevelt Ellis, Sr.
Obituary“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the Heaven
Ecclesiastes 3:1
Brother Roosevelt Ellis, Sr., the son of the late Mr. Rufus Ellis, Sr. & Mrs. Alagre Donald Ellis, was born October 31, 1943, in Grady County Georgia. Brother Ellis experienced a warm and embracive childhood while being reared on his parents farm in the Sixteen “16” Community of Grady County Georgia, along with his siblings, Rose Ellis Walker, James McTursh, Jr., Helen Ellis Adderly, Josephine Ellis Johnson, and John Ira Ellis, all of whom preceded him in death, and Mary Ellis Ham, Cherrie Ellis Brown, and Dr. Rufus Ellis, Jr. Brother Ellis’ life was richly tempered by that of his great aunt, the late Bessie C. Thomas, and his faternal grandmother, the late Tessie Thomas Ellis, and surrogate grandfather, the late E.T. Thomas. Embodied in a family of deep religious roots, at an early age, Brother Ellis was introduced to God as orchestrated by his parents and members of his immediate family. It was at this time, Brother Ellis evolved a greater thirst for the “Word” and the conceptual religious framework. Thus, instituting in him a strong sense of religious values, Christian ethics, and moral standards. The precipitation of this drive propelled Brother Ellis’ acceptant of Christ while in his early childhood, and he subsequently became a member of the St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church under the tutelage of the late Reverend Clifford D. Hammonds. Brother Ellis served as a member of the Board of Trustees.
Brother Ellis was a product of the Grady County Public School System. He drew upon his rich educational experience coupled with the skills inculcated by his father, great-aunt, and maternal grandmother, to cultivate and grow a successful career in farming. Brother Ellis also gained a brief history in the workforce with the airline industry and with the food service corporation.
Brother Ellis’ teen years yielded him the acquaintance of Beatrice Jones. This conversance unfolded into Holy matrimony November 30, 1966. The union Blessed the coupled with three adorable children, Chavelle Ellis, Roosevelt “Pete” Ellis, Jr., and Jacquelyn “Jackie” Ellis (Deceased).
Upon the demise of Brother Roosevelt Ellis, Sr., on Tuesday, November 19, 2019, his unwithered essence lives on in the hearts of his family and those whose lives he touched. Brother Ellis leaves to cherish his precious memory: a loving wife, Mrs. Beatrice Jones Ellis of Whigham, Georgia; two children, SFC Roosevelt “Pete” Ellis, Jr., of El Paso, Texas and Mrs. Chavelle Ellis Hall (Ret. 1SG Ben) of Elizabethtown, Kentucky; a brother, Dr. Rufus Ellis, Jr., of Tallahassee, Florida; two sisters, Mrs. Mary Ellis Ham (Fred) of Willingboro, New Jersey and Mrs. Cherrie Ellis Brown (Ernie) of Boardman, Ohio; one uncle, Ret. Ltc. Benjamin Ellis, Jr. (Christine), of Miami, Florida; three aunts, Mrs. Lillian Collin of Cairo, Georgia, Mrs. Aaron Ellis of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Mrs. Christine Ellis of Miami, Florida; six grandchildren, Christopher Ellis (Ashley) of Phoenix, Arizona, Travier Ellis (Camille) of Phoenix, Arizona, SSGT Alexandria Ellis Thurman of San Diego, California, DeShawn Ellis Hall of Elizabethtown, Kentucky, Joshua Ellis Stewart of Whigham, Georgia, and Keiaga Ellis of Clarksville, Tennessee; seven brother-in-laws, Rev. Joseph Johnson, Jr., of Gerard, Ohio, Mr. Fred Ham of Willingboro, New Jersey, Mr. Chauncey Adderly of Pembroke Pines, Florida, Dea. Ernie Brown, Jr., of Boardman, Ohio, Dea. Woodrow Jones, Jr., of Pelham, Georgia, Mr. Booker T. Jones of Camilla, Georgia, and Mr. Anthony Jones (Daniella) of Clarksville, Tennessee; two sister-in-laws, Mrs. Juanita Jones Nixon (Sam) of Miramar, Florida and Mrs. Girlean Jones Dullas of Clarksville, Tennessee; three great-grandchildren, Mr. Jamaya Thurman of San Diego, California, Mr. Dwight Thurman III of San Diego, California, and Miss Amiya Ellis of Phoenix, Arizona; godbrother, Mr. Sammy Lawton of Cairo, Georgia; and a host of other nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
“In bodies that will never grow old, We’ll reign with Him through years untold;Oh, precious thought, we all shall be, With Christ through all eternity.”
Watson
Order of S erviceReverend Thomas Garland, Officiating
“A precious one from us is gone,A voice we loved is still;
A place is vacant in our home,Which never can be filled.”
Processional ........................................................................................ St. Paul M.B. Church Choir
Prayer ................................................................................................Rev. Thomas Garland, Pastor
Selection ............................................................................................. St. Paul M.B. Church Choir
Reading of the Holy Scriptures Old Testament ..........................................................................................Rev. Dr. Dellisex Cox
Beulah M.B. ChurchCairo, Georgia
New Testament ....................................................................................... Bishop Ruben AddisonAllen Chapel
(The Sixteen Community)Whigham, Georgia
Selection ............................................................................................. St. Paul M.B. Church Choir
Special Tribute and Acknowledgements .......................................... Dea. Alex Cornell, ChairmanBoard of Deacons
St. Paul M.B. Church
Dea. Ernie Brown, Jr.Rising Star M.B. Church
Youngstown, Ohio
Trustee Fred HamTabernaclee M.B. ChurchWillingboro, New Jersey
Selection ............................................................................................. St. Paul M.B. Church Choir
Eulogy ...................................................................................Rev. Bruce Leon Ellis Francis, PastorSt. Paul A.M.E. Church
Valdosta, Georgia
Invocation .....................................................................................................Rev. Thomas Garland
Recessional
Repast ..................................................................................St. Paul M.B. Church Fellowship Hall