Eligha Ellis

Eligha Ellis, Sr. was born August 5, 1921, in Itasca, Texas. He was the third child born to Henry Ellis and Alberta Payne Ellis. He was baptized at New Bethel Baptist Church in Itasca. Later, he joined Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist in Houston. He passed on February 3, 2021, peacefully at home, in his sleep, from complications of Dementia and age. His three loving children were by his side. He was under the care of the Houston Hospice and the VA Hospital Home Based Program.

Eligha was very proud of his beloved wife, Oliver Teresa Pettis Ellis, to whom he was married for 54 years before her passing. To this union, three children were born—Eligha, Jr., Melody, and Rodney. Eligha always gave Teresa credit for raising their children. He considered some of his greatest accomplishments -- his children, who have all shown a sense of community and social responsibility to provide assistance to anyone in need.

Eligha attended grade school in Itasca, Texas but only completed two years of high school, because the nearest high school was ten miles away. He and his brothers learned from their parents and employed a lot of grit, wit, and common sense. He was affectionally called “Pop” by just about everyone in his neighborhood and friends of his children. He was known as Ellis by most who knew him.

Eligha was inducted and entered into active duty of the U.S. Army on June 26, 1942 in Dallas, Texas. He served as a Heavy Machine Gunner 605 and was declared a Marksman (Rifle) on July 23, 1942. He served in New Guinea, Northern Solomons, and Luzon GO 105 WD 45. His decorations included the Victory Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Stars; Good Conduct Medal; Philippines Liberation Ribbon with 1 Bronze Star; 6 Overseas Service Bars and 1 Service Stripe. He departed for the Asian Pacific on October 20, 1942, arriving on November 12, 1942. He served there for three years, departing for the United States on November 17, 1945 arriving on December 4, 1945, as an Honorably Discharged Private First Class. Like his brothers, he joined the U.S. Army to escape the cotton fields of Itasca and Hill County, Texas.

After his honorable discharge from the Army, Eligha moved to Houston where he enrolled in photography classes at The Texas College for Negroes, took a Nurse’s Aide program and a correspondence course to repair small engines. Eligha worked at San Jacinto Ordinance until it closed and then worked at the Veterans’ Hospital as a Nurse’s Aide on the Urology Ward. While working at the VA at night before retiring at age 55, he started a small engine repair business,

repairing lawnmowers, edgers, small appliances and recycled everything that could be fixed. He made his own lye soap to wash his rags and aprons. He was good at all things mechanical. Every child who needed air or a flat tire fixed, on their bicycle tires, often visited his backyard workshop. He taught them to repair their own bicycles. They also got a small lecture or pep talk.

Known for his straight-forwardness and strong work ethic, he was an avid reader, loved reading Western novels and would often read a paperback a night while sitting in his recliner. He was also a “Pool Shark” and taught his boys and grandchildren how to play. He even tried to teach the girls. He had a passion for Blue Bell ice cream and usually had his upright freezer full of nothing but ice cream—at least six half gallons when it was on sale. Homemade Vanilla and Peach were his favorites.

Eligha was a quiet man of an unassuming nature who provided for his family—working two jobs at a time. When he was no longer able to work, he used his toy tools to take a loose the furniture in his room at a rehabilitation center. Even after he had forgotten where he was, he was still active. He got up every day and started on his way to work in the den or the activity room—usually hammering, screwing pieces of wood together, taking the wheels off his toys, playing his version of solitaire, and shooting his brand of pool.

He leaves to cherish his memory, his three children Eligha, Jr., Melody, and Rodney (Licia Green); two grandsons, Andre O’Keith Ellis (Houston) and Rodney Leland Ellis (Austin), one great-grandson, Andre O’Keith Wolfe (Jazmyne) (Annapolis, MD), three granddaughters, Nicole Ellis (Houston) Maria Hill (New York), and Alena Ellis (Houston) one great granddaughter, Briana Ellis (San Marcus, TX) , one brother, David Ellis (92 years of age) (Copperas Cove, TX), a cherished niece, Mouveleane Cook and her husband Charlie (Memphis, TN), two cherished nephews, Todd Ellis (Los Angeles, CA) and Byron Cook (Houston, TX), one sister-in-law, Nell Pettis (Houston, TX). A host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, great-great nieces and great-great nephews and a host of good neighbors, including his backyard fence buddy, Alfred St Mary, and next door neighbor Sheila Harris; and a host of church friends, adopted family, friends, and associates to each have their individual remembrances of him.

Eligha Ellis, Sr. was preceded in death by his wife, Oliver Teresa Pettis Ellis; his parents: Father (Henry Ellis), Mother (Alberta Payne), two step-fathers, two sisters: Mouveleane Ellis and Berda Mae Godwin and a brother, Sammie Ellis. He is also preceded in death by two of his best friends—Shelly Forbes from Itasca, Texas and Wesley Taylor of Houston, Texas.

Due to Covid 19 services are private and only invited guest may attend the funeral service, family and friends are welcomed to support the family virtually by joining the livestream of the service on the American Heritage Funeral Home Facebook page.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.AmericanHeritageFuneralHome.com for the Ellis family.