Ellen Patrice Sumrall

Ellen was born in Mobile on July 15, 1966 to Malcolm and Carol Sumrall. She attended St. Paul’s Episcopal School where she was All State, All County and Most Valuable Cross Country Track awards. She attended the University of South Alabama where she was the first woman to sign for the track program where Sue King was the first track coach. She graduated from Murphy High School in 1984. She held a degree in Psychology from Auburn University and a degree in English from the University of South Alabama.

Ellen always said she wanted to help people, and was a volunteer with Goodwill, helping peers to pass the GED. In 2007 she was nominated for a Heart of Gold United Way Award by Goodwill for her work in helping a blind man pass his GED.

If you knew Ellen you knew she was a “cat” person, and she adopted multiple homeless cats over the years.

She was preceded in death by her father, O. Malcolm Sumrall Jr. She is survived by her mother, Carol Sumrall; her sister, Lynn Hennig (Jerry); her nephews, Drew Hennig (Jordan), Matthew Hennig (Ashton), Jonathan Hennig; and her niece, Caroline Hennig Schanke (Tommy). She enjoyed her great nieces Larkin, Libba, Callen, and Mollie.

A memorial service will be held at Spring Hill Presbyterian Church, 10 Westminster Way on Sunday, August 9, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. followed by a reception in the Fellowship Hall. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Spring Hill Presbyterian Church or The Friends of Mobile Animal Shelter.