The Life of Robertha Ellis
Robertha Ellis
December 25, 1925 – August 28, 2015
The Obituary
Robertha was born December 25, 1925 to the late Amos B. and Ercell Clay, In Durham, North Carolina. She was the youngest girl of five children. She was educated in the school system in North Carolina and graduated from Hill Side High School. At an early age, she joined and was baptized at Mt. Gillard Baptist Church in North Carolina and served for many years on the usher board and in the choral group, the New Sunlight Juniors. In addition, she, her two sisters and a friend, formed a quartet and sang at their church and other area churches.
After graduation, she followed her older brother and sister to Philadelphia, PA where they had moved years earlier. Years later, she met, loved and married Robert Lee Ellis. After that union, one son was born, Reginald Lee Ellis. He was her only child.
In 1963 she joined Vine Memorial Baptist Church under the late Rev. Leonard G. Carr. She was a member of the Trustee Aids, and the North Carolina club. This was a group of former North Carolinians who fellowshipped and addressed different needs of the church. She loved doing missionary work and was always willing to do whatever she could do when called upon. She believed that it was not the big or little things you do in life that mattered, but rather what was done from the heart and for the goodness of the Lord.
She was employed as a waitress and a cashier for most of the time while employed in West Philadelphia. However, for a brief while in her later employable years, she worked for an upscale shoe store named Pappagallo in downtown Philadelphia. She was awarded a certificate of appreciation for service, personality, and the ability to work with those who she dealt with. She was known to many as a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and aunt. She had a positive work for and expressed love towards everyone.
In 1993 she moved to Cincinnati, OH and joined Tried Stone Missionary Baptist Church under the late Pastor Anderson Culbreth. There she was active with the Keenagers. She also accepted the treasure’s role in the adult Sunday School Class. She enjoyed the class and her teacher, Deacon Lindsey Johnson, very much and prepared for her lesson every week. Very early on in her membership she assisted Sister Irene Bolden in maintaining the many live indoor plants around the church. This was a self-started service that Sister Bolden began and mother was glad to help being the plant lover she was.
She also did her missionary work on her own in the community. You could often find her on the phone with her friends, volunteering, beautifying her garden, her community, and being a grandmother to children in the community through the Family Forward efforts. She loved her neighbors and would never say no to any of them if they needed her for anything. Now in her senior years her neighbors referred to her as Ms. Ellis or Robertha. But to some dear neighbors, she was known as “Ms. Philadelphia” because of the way she “stepped out” on Sunday morning on her way to church.
She is preceded in death by her brothers and sister: Amos Clay, Flora B. Lyons, Irene O. Grimes, and Eddie C. Dyer, one niece: Sheila Clay, and one nephew: Amos J. Clay. She leaves behind one son: Reginald Ellis, daughter-in-law Judy Ellis, four grandsons: Vaughn Lee Wright, Harim Cardwell Ellis, Nathanael Charles Ellis, and Simeon Joseph Ellis. She also leaves behind five great-granddaughters: Tanae, Shanice, Vanae, Ariana, Ayesha, one great-great grandson: Audigier, two nieces: Dr. Rita McMillan, Donna Clay, one nephew: Aaron Clay, a dear brother-in-law: Voni Grimes, and many cousins and friends.
December 25, 1925 – August 28, 2015
The Obituary
Robertha was born December 25, 1925 to the late Amos B. and Ercell Clay, In Durham, North Carolina. She was the youngest girl of five children. She was educated in the school system in North Carolina and graduated from Hill Side High School. At an early age, she joined and was baptized at Mt. Gillard Baptist Church in North Carolina and served for many years on the usher board and in the choral group, the New Sunlight Juniors. In addition, she, her two sisters and a friend, formed a quartet and sang at their church and other area churches.
After graduation, she followed her older brother and sister to Philadelphia, PA where they had moved years earlier. Years later, she met, loved and married Robert Lee Ellis. After that union, one son was born, Reginald Lee Ellis. He was her only child.
In 1963 she joined Vine Memorial Baptist Church under the late Rev. Leonard G. Carr. She was a member of the Trustee Aids, and the North Carolina club. This was a group of former North Carolinians who fellowshipped and addressed different needs of the church. She loved doing missionary work and was always willing to do whatever she could do when called upon. She believed that it was not the big or little things you do in life that mattered, but rather what was done from the heart and for the goodness of the Lord.
She was employed as a waitress and a cashier for most of the time while employed in West Philadelphia. However, for a brief while in her later employable years, she worked for an upscale shoe store named Pappagallo in downtown Philadelphia. She was awarded a certificate of appreciation for service, personality, and the ability to work with those who she dealt with. She was known to many as a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and aunt. She had a positive work for and expressed love towards everyone.
In 1993 she moved to Cincinnati, OH and joined Tried Stone Missionary Baptist Church under the late Pastor Anderson Culbreth. There she was active with the Keenagers. She also accepted the treasure’s role in the adult Sunday School Class. She enjoyed the class and her teacher, Deacon Lindsey Johnson, very much and prepared for her lesson every week. Very early on in her membership she assisted Sister Irene Bolden in maintaining the many live indoor plants around the church. This was a self-started service that Sister Bolden began and mother was glad to help being the plant lover she was.
She also did her missionary work on her own in the community. You could often find her on the phone with her friends, volunteering, beautifying her garden, her community, and being a grandmother to children in the community through the Family Forward efforts. She loved her neighbors and would never say no to any of them if they needed her for anything. Now in her senior years her neighbors referred to her as Ms. Ellis or Robertha. But to some dear neighbors, she was known as “Ms. Philadelphia” because of the way she “stepped out” on Sunday morning on her way to church.
She is preceded in death by her brothers and sister: Amos Clay, Flora B. Lyons, Irene O. Grimes, and Eddie C. Dyer, one niece: Sheila Clay, and one nephew: Amos J. Clay. She leaves behind one son: Reginald Ellis, daughter-in-law Judy Ellis, four grandsons: Vaughn Lee Wright, Harim Cardwell Ellis, Nathanael Charles Ellis, and Simeon Joseph Ellis. She also leaves behind five great-granddaughters: Tanae, Shanice, Vanae, Ariana, Ayesha, one great-great grandson: Audigier, two nieces: Dr. Rita McMillan, Donna Clay, one nephew: Aaron Clay, a dear brother-in-law: Voni Grimes, and many cousins and friends.