SHIRLEY WELLS ELLIS
Died Nov. 18, 2016
Shirley Wells Ellis passed away peacefully in the comfortable surroundings of her home, surrounded by the familiar faces of her loved ones, in the early evening of Friday, Nov. 18, 2016, at the remarkable age of 89.
Though born in Tampa, Fla., Mrs. Ellis was raised in the Rones Chapel community near Mount Olive, and attended Rones Chapel Church until adulthood.
Her life's work began as being a beautician.
Then, for a long tenure of time, she operated Ellis' Dress Shop at the Goldsboro Hotel in downtown Goldsboro.
She then became a teacher's assistant with Wayne County Schools, and retired, only to become a sales associate in ladies apparel at Belk.
Also, she assisted her husband in the operation of Ellis Produce by being the company's secretary and bookkeeper for many years.
She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Mount Olive.
Known within the family unit as "Shirl the Pearl" because of her love for fine clothes with all matching accessories, including a strand of pearls, she was a proper lady, who always dressed to a tee and presented herself in her very best.
She was the "Queen" of the Wells family, and didn't mind letting others know of her status.
Fiercely independent, she continued to live alone after her husband's passing until recent months.
Mrs. Ellis is survived by her loving son, Frederick N. "Freddie" Ellis Jr. of Mount Olive; a granddaughter, Kirstin Ellis Cornish and husband, Nathan, of Goldsboro; a great-grandson, Joel Cornish also of Goldsboro; a stepdaughter, Judy Ellis Zindel and husband, Dr. Barry Zindel, of Dennison, Texas; a stepgrandson, Braden Zindel of Dennison; four sisters and brothers-in-law, Beverette W. and William Davis of Mount Olive, Peggy W. and Ormond Whitted of Harker's Island, Linda Kay Wells of Mount Olive and Betty W. and Jimmy Reaves of Little River, S.C.; two sisters-in-law, Evelyn W. Wells of Mount Olive and Shirley C. Wells of Calypso; the Ellis and Wells nieces and nephews, whom she loved dearly; and a special cousin, Mike Goodson, of New Jersey.
Those preceding her in death include her husband, Fred N. Ellis; a grandson, Frederick N. Ellis III, known as Ellis Ellis; her parents, Johnnie Mac Wells and Sadie Dixon Wells; and her four brothers, J. W. Wells, McCray "Crow" Wells, Everette "Shorty" Wells and Cecil Wells.
A service to remember the long, good and productive life of this much-loved woman will be held Tuesday, Nov. 22, at 11 a.m. by the graveside in Wells-Southerland Cemetery in the Rones Chapel community. Dr. H. Dennis Draper Jr., next-door neighbor and friend, will preside, with Andy Wells offering words of remembrance. Music will be rendered by Shirley Proctor and William Davis.
The family of Mrs. Ellis will be receiving friends at the Johnnie Mac Wells homeplace, now the home of Linda Kay Wells, 194 Rones Chapel Road, Mount Olive.
Memorial gifts are suggested to be made to Home Health and Hospice (3-HC), 2402 Wayne Memorial Drive, Goldsboro, 27534.
The family wishes to express sincere gratitude to Joann Deusenbery for her exemplary care in tending to Mrs. Ellis during the few months of her declining health and also to the staff of 3-HC for its end-of-life care, with a special thanks to Christie Walker.
A Tyndall service of Mount Olive.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on November 20, 2016 9:15 AM