Thaddeus Gray Ellington

Thad was born on August 10th, 1949 to James Thomas Ellington II and Jessie Earp Ellington of Raleigh, NC. Thad graduated from Needham Broughton High School in 1968 and went on to study Political Science at The University of North Carolina Chapel Hill.

In 1988, Thad started PFS Sales Company several years after being named PYA Monarch’s Sales Rep of the Year. Thad enjoyed a life-long passion for sales. Through this he touched many people spanning from the western part of the state to the coast. In his later years, his passion for sales and his employee’s success endured. However, much of his focus turned to his family, which he often remarked was his greatest accomplishment. His daughter Crystal and his grandchildren Holden and Savannah were the light of his life.

Thad was strong willed and stubborn, but he also had an enormous heart and devilish sense of humor. He was generous, loyal, brave, and forever a Tarheel. He was clever and full to the brim with knowledge gained through all of his life experiences. He will be remembered for all the heart he shared with his friends and family. He truly loved each of them- and if you knew him, you knew it. When his time came, he carried himself with dignity, strength, and full of love. He will be missed dearly.

Thad was preceded in death by his mother and father. He is survived by his daughter Crystal Ellington Mace and son-in-law Jason Mace of Raleigh, NC; grandchildren Holden Thaddeus Kenneth Mace and Savannah Caneel Mace; Brother Jim Ellington (Diane) of New Bern, NC and sister Katie Ellington of Whitehaven, UK.

Friends wishing to honor Thad’s lifelong commitment to family and community can make donations in his name to UNC Children’s Hospital, 123 West Franklin St, Suite 510, Chapel Hill, NC 27516.

Thad’s celebration of life will be on Saturday, June 3rd at 1pm at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home on St. Mary’s Street, Raleigh, NC with reception to follow.