Ellen Burns Treadway

Ellen Elise Burns Treadway, 73, died unexpectedly Thursday night, March 6, 2014 of an apparent heart attack, at home with her family. Born on December 12, 1940 in the old Baptist Hospital to Elise Page Burns and J.B. Burns, Jr., she grew up on Pinehurst Place in Jackson. She was a lifelong resident of the Belhaven neighborhood, attending school at Power Elemetary, Bailey Jr. High, Murrah High School, and Millsaps College.

At Millsaps she was a member of Chi Omega Fraternity, sang in the choir and was active in other campus affairs. She graduated in 1962 with a degree in Education, and taught first grade for a year in Greenville. She returned to Jackson and taught several years at Spann Elementary School. In 1967 she married her college sweetheart Marcus Treadway from Hollandale, Mississippi. They celebrated their 46th anniversary last November.

Ellen and Marcus made their home on Gillespie Street, a block away form her childhood home. There they raised their two children, Marc and Ellen Elise. Ellen actively supported the parents’ organizations of their schools, along with a wide array of other church, neighborhood and community activities. A lifelong Methodist, she was a member of Christ United Methodist Church, where she served on church committees and participated in the “Caring Friends” UMW circle. She enjoyed keeping up with her many local friends through membership in several luncheon clubs, including Les Coeurs, Potpourri, Southern Luncheon Club, and Murrah Luncheon Club. She was active in the Rebecca Cravat chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). She volunteered countless hours for her alma mater Millsaps College, helping to organize class reunions. Ellen was a good cook and a gracious hostess, welcoming friends and neighbors to her table and front porch on many occasions. She served as President (“Queen”) of the Belhaven House and Garden Club and was a member and volunteer with the Greater Belhaven Neighborhood Foundation.

Besides civic activities, Ellen enjoyed traveling with her husband and family, including visits to many small towns in Mississippi, frequent trips to the mountains of North Carolina and New England, and tours across the United States and Europe. She is survived by her husband, Marcus Treadway; son, Marc Treadway; daughter, Ellen Elise Treadway; and half-brother, John Baxter Burns, all of Jackson. She is also survived by her nephews and niece, Baxter (Wanda) Burns, Beverly (Leon) Bridges, and Jim (Teresa) Burns, as well as several devoted first cousins.

Visitation will be Sunday, March 9, 2014 from 1 until 4 PM at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home in Jackson. Funeral services will be held at Christ United Methodist Church on Monday, March 10 at 11 AM with a visitation beginning at 9:30 AM. Interment to follow at Lakewood Memorial Park. The family requests that all memorial contributions be directed to Millsaps College, Christ United Methodist Church, or a favorite charity.