James Lannie Ellis

Retired, Farmer, Meat Market Owner

James Lannie Ellis, age 86, died July 19, 2015, at Ogeechee Area Hospice in Statesboro. He was a native of the Hopeulikit Community and a member of Friendship Baptist Church. Mr. Ellis was a farmer, and co-owner of Ellis Meat Market, which he began with his family in the Hopeulikit Community in 1967 and relocated the Business in Statesboro in the early 80’s. He was a Veteran of the US Army having served in the Korean Conflict. He was a devoted husband and loved his family deeply and enjoyed his friends and church family. He was preceded in death by his sons, James Kenneth Ellis and Rodney Ellis, parents, Ben and Sara Pennington Ellis, his brothers and sisters, Richard Ellis, John Paul Ellis, Ben (Jimbo) Ellis, Ulma Hodges, Mildred Chester, Wilma Davis, Helen Hayslip.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, LeVaughn Smith Ellis and his children and their spouses, Angela Ellis Edenfield (Joe), Lannie Kimball Ellis (Shirl) of Statesboro, and Pamela Ellis Ballew (Stan) of Tifton, Ga. Grandchildren, Lannette Skrine (Scott), Hannah Deal (Tracy), Kenneth Kyle Ellis and Kaitlin Ellis, Meredith Edenfield Bridges (Charlie), Joie Edenfield Roach (John), Mary Walker Ballew Gurz (Mike), Mark Ballew, Austin Ellis Ballew, Sarah LeVaughn Ballew, Megan Ellis and Amanda Ellis. Fourteen Great Grandchildren, JT, Laina, & Jimilyn Skrine, Alexis, MaKayla, & Colton Cone, Rho & Ellis Bridges, and Anderson, JB, and Banks Roach, Alexis and Elijah Gurz, and Ella Nora Moreno. His brother, Charles Ellis, Hopulikit and Sisters-In-Law, Faye Hagin of Statesboro and Betty Ellis of Hopeulikit; brother-in-law, Alton Hayslip of Statesboro; Jackie E. Cross of Athens and a host of nephews and nieces. Special friends and caregivers, Angie Marie Morris, Patricia Ann Jenkins, and Margarette Brannen. Also, we would like recognize our new friends and family, the staff at Ogeechee Area Hospice for the caring way that you all supported the Ellis family.

Visitation will be held Monday July 20th from 5:00 to 7:00pm at Hodges Moore Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday morning at 11:00am from the Friendship Baptist Church with Rev. Tom Osborne officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

His body will lie in state at the church from 10:00am till the funeral hour on Tuesday morning.

Active Pallbearers will be grandsons.

Honorary pallbearers will be employees of Ellis Meat Market.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ogeechee Area Hospice, P.O. Box 531, Statesboro, GA 30459 or Coastal Regional Alzheimer’s Association, 201 Television Circle, Savannah, GA 31406.

Hodges-Moore Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.