Born on Feb. 14, 1914, to Walter Rowan and Nettie Furr Shelton, she learned early the love of family and the importance of a nurturing home life. She lived a life of Christian witness and service to others. She will be remembered as a great cook, artist, friend, and a loving mother and grandmother. Elsie was an active member of United Methodist Churches in Batesville, Tupelo, Alta Woods UMC in Jackson, and Asbury UMC in Memphis, TN.
Preceded in death by her husband, W. C. Gillis, her 8 siblings, and one grandson, Clayton Cromwell Gillis, she is survived by son, Shelton Gillis (Jeanne) of Germantown, TN, two grandsons, Bill Gillis of Washington, D. C., and Chris Gillis of Germantown, TN, and two sisters-in-law, Maude Furr of Ackerman, MS, and Odein Gillis of Alexandria, LA.
The family will receive friends at 1:00 pm Wed., Oct. 14, 2015, at Parkway Funeral Home in Ridgeland, MS, followed by her funeral service at 2:00 pm. Interment will be in the Shelton Cemetery in Copiah Co. Memorials may be made to Cystic Fibrosis, the Am. Heart Assn. or a charity of choice.
