A Service of Remembrance will be held at Centenary United Methodist Church on Friday, May 10th, 2024, at 1:00 PM, with Rev. Dr. Michael B. Brown, Rev. Dr. J. Alexander Ward, Jr., and Rev. Kelley Groce officiating. A short period of visitation will occur after the service, followed by a private ceremony to place the cremains in the Centenary columbarium.
Reverend Ellis was born in Tampa, Florida, on January 29, 1926, to Frank and Bonnie Ellis. He attended Southwestern at Memphis, now Rhodes College, and graduated from Western Carolina University. He also graduated from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University, where he received a Master of Divinity degree. He was a veteran of World War II.
Reverend Ellis worked with Van Raalte Company, Inc., for eight years before receiving his divinity degree. Upon his graduation from Emory University, he served churches across the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church, including appointments in Greensboro, Winston-Salem, and Kernersville.
During his career as a minister, Reverend Ellis held leadership roles on numerous boards throughout the Conference. Within each city where he lived, he actively participated in various civic clubs. He was on Greensboro College’s Board of Trustees for twenty-four years and was on the Board of Goodwill Industries for eight years.
Reverend Ellis will be remembered as a loving and caring father, a fan of humor, a consummate listener, and a soul with an unparalleled compassion for his fellow man.
Surviving Reverend Ellis are his wife, Clara Taylor Ellis, and their five children: Emmett (Jane) of Kernersville, NC; Marie Pugh of Roanoke, VA; Gene (Mary Catherine) of Albemarle, NC; Mike (Candi) of Greensboro, NC; and Tim (Laura) of New Albany, OH. Reverend Ellis is also survived by nine grandchildren: Carey Ellis, Jennifer Justice, Chris Pugh, Sarah Ellis, Mary Hannah Ellis, Justin Ellis, Taylor Ellis, Hailey Hanahan, and Harrison Ellis; ten great-grandchildren; and his brother, Douglas Ellis. Preceding him in death was his brother, Dale Ellis (Jean).
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Ellis Family Endowed Scholarship at Brevard College, One Brevard College Drive, Brevard, NC, 28712. Please note in the memo line of your check: Memory - Rev. Donald Ellis. Alternatively, contributions may be made to UMAR at UMAR Development Office, P.O. Box 480291, Charlotte, NC, 28269. Please note in the memo line of your check: Memory - Rev. Donald Ellis / Westridge Home.
