Anna Catherine Cathy Ellis

Anna Catherine Ellis, age 71, of Atlanta, died peacefully with her beloved daughter, Johanna, by her side, on March 16, 2015 after a courageous battle with stage IV lung cancer. She is survived by her daughter, Johanna Wynn Ellis; her brothers John William Ellis V and wife Carol Ellis; her niece Casey Ellis Frames; nephews David Michael Ellis and John William Ellis VI; brother Charles Stanley Ellis; and her beloved Brussels Griffons, Mojo, Tinkerbell, and Sasha. Preceded in death by her parents John & Jane Ellis.

Cathy was a prominent business woman, a loving mother, a loyal friend and compassionate sister.

Born in Mexico, MO, Cathy grew up in Jacksonville, IL, and later moved to Arizona where she graduated from boarding school in Scottsdale. Four years later, after completing her time at The University of Arizona in Tuscon, she and a sorority sister headed to San Francisco to enter the working world. There, Cathy pursued mortgage banking and real estate, and for several years, bought and sold houses for a living. Cathy always enjoyed working hard but also enjoyed celebrating life in its many forms. She was an avid sailor during her time in San Francisco and could occasionally be found at the card tables.

It was at that point that she again decided to pursue her dream career in the automotive industry.

She moved to Peoria, IL to pursue an opportunity with the family business at their Volkswagen dealership, learning everything from the ground up- what Cathy called her “masters degree in the car business.”

In 1988, at the encouragement of her father, Cathy left Peoria for Atlanta to assume the position of General Manager of Atlanta Classic Cars, Inc., the family’s second Atlanta Mercedes-Benz dealership. Two years later, after cancer took her father’s life, she took full ownership becoming President and Dealer Principle of Atlanta Classic Cars. Cathy grew her business to become one of the top women owned and operated dealerships in the nation. She was the first woman elected to the Mercedes-Benz National Dealer Council and chaired their Pre-Owned Council. Cathy always attributed her success to her employees, many of whom call her “mom” to this day. Cathy’s interests extended well beyond the dealership into the community that supported her business. Besides contributing to causes for which she had a personal affinity, she found ways to give back to her community through sponsorships of the arts and healthcare. Cathy also served on the Small Business Advisory Council for the Federal Reserve Bank and the Board of Advisors for The Carter Center. Cathy was most proud that her daughter had followed in her trailblazing footsteps, preserving the legacy.

Funeral services are scheduled for Thursday, March 19, 2015 at 2:30 in the afternoon at H. M. Patterson & Son - Spring Hill, 1020 Spring Street, NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30309; 404-876-1022. A Celebration of Life and Visitation Reception will follow at The Estate, 3109 Piedmont Road, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30305 until 6 o'clock in the evening.

In lieu of flowers; memorial gifts are requested to Winship Cancer Institute for Lung Cancer Research: winshipcancer.emory.edu/support or to Meals on Wheels; mealsonwheelsatlanta.org.