Nelle Branan Ennis

Nelle Branan Ennis, 99, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, went to be with the Lord on Friday, April 26, 2024.  Visitation will be held on Sunday, May 5, 2024, from 2:00 pm to 3:00 at Macon Memorial Park Funeral Home in Macon, GA with funeral services to follow at 3:00 pm, the Rev. Debbie Cone and Nelle’s niece, the Rev. June Pinner Edwards, officiating. Interment will follow at Macon Memorial Park.

Nelle was born in Camilla, GA, on December 19, 1924, and lived her entire life in the State of Georgia. She spent her early years in Camilla before moving to Milledgeville, where she graduated from Peabody High School and attended Georgia State College for Women at Milledgeville.  She married Edgar William Ennis on October 17, 1942 and the two made their home in Macon. They moved to Albany in 1955. By the time of Edgar’s death in 2020, they had been married for 77 years. At the time of her passing, she had been living in Chatsworth, at the home of her daughter Bonnie Otts and Bonnie’s husband Gary. (That Bonnie and Gary so freely opened their home to Nelle was a selfless act of love and devotion for which Nelle’s other children will be forever grateful).

Mrs. Ennis enjoyed playing piano and writing poetry. She was a member of The Poetry Society for many years. She produced 3 volumes of poetry for family and friends. She was a very active member of Avalon United Methodist Church, the Ladies Bible Class, the United Methodist Women, and the Golden Key Club, and she was a volunteer at the church office.

Mrs. Ennis was preceded in death by her beloved husband Edgar, and by her father and mother, Robert Wilson Branan and Katie Leonard Branan, her siblings, Eula Kate Holcomb, Louise Branan Crisp, Donie Leone Branan, Robert Harris Branan, Ruth Estelle Branan, Joel Harris Branan, and Della Marie Branan Shattles and a great-grandson, Ferris Edward Otts.

Survivors include children, Bonnie (Gary) Otts of Chatsworth, GA, Laurie Ennis of Macon, GA, Ed (Judy) Ennis of Macon, GA, Richard (Donna) Ennis of Lagrange, GA and Robbie (Leah) Ennis of Rome, GA, grandchildren, Robert (Amanda) Otts, Chatsworth, GA, Daniel (Samantha) Otts, Pleasanton, CA, William Ennis, Atlanta, GA, Branan (Aaron) Zahn, Tampa, FL, Stephen (Hannah) Ennis, Greer, SC, Rachel (Charlie) deCelle, Jacksonville, AL, Caroline (Ryan) Rafuse, Rome, GA, and great-grandchildren, Owen Otts, Evan Otts, Avery Otts, Felix Otts, Fritz Otts, Fergus Otts, Luca Carella, Eila Carella, Ethan Zahn, Scarlett Zahn, Annabelle Zahn, Abigail Ennis, Charlie Rafuse, Emma deCelle, and Walton deCelle.

The family would like to express their deep appreciation to Dr. Wiley Smith, director of Grace Medical Outreach Ministry in Dalton, for the sustaining medical attention and care he afforded Nelle during her years in Chatsworth.

Those desiring may make donations to Avalon United Methodist Church, 3018 Gillionville Rd., Albany, GA 31721, or Grace Medical Outreach Ministry, 2107 Threadmill Rd., Dalton, GA 30720.

To sign our online registry or to send condolences to the family, you may visit the funeral home website at www.snowsmacon.com.