JUANITA W. ELLIS, 83, passed away peacefully, Friday, April 17, 2015. As a native of Comm-erce, Ga., she moved to Fort Wayne in 1950 with her husband, Cecil Ellis. In 1954, the Ellis Funeral Home was established. In 1986, she retired from Fort Wayne Community Schools after touching numerous young lives who attended Hanna, Whitney Young and Bunche Elementary Schools. After the passing of her husband of 37 years, a year later, she continued the funeral home business. Her community involvement included memberships of the following: Union Baptist Church, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Order of the Eastern Star, Matchless Chapter #8, East Central Neighborhood Association; former board member of East Wayne Street Center, former member of Frontiers Auxiliary and lifetime member of NAACP of Fort Wayne. Surviving are her son, Craig Ellis, Esq.; granddaughters, Kirstin (Marcus) Brown and Rani (Shon) Haigler; sisters, Gwen Agar, Helen (James) Varnum and Janice Smith; brothers, Douglas M. Williamson, James Williamson and Jerry (Shirley) Williamson; two special aunts, Ruby Jones and Lee Henderson; sister-in-law, Betty Brown Williamson; three great-grandsons, Shanen, Rian and Karter; along with a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Coy and Lula Williamson; two sisters, Conchita Sims and Sara White; and a brother, Coy C. Williamson. Service is 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 22, 2015 at Pilgrim Baptist Church, 1331 Gay St. with calling one hour before the service. Visitation also from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 21, 2015 at Union Baptist Church, 2200 Smith St. Entombment in Covington Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Stillman College Scholarship Fund, 3601 Stillman Blvd., Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 or online at www.stillman.edu. Arrangements by Ellis Funeral Home.



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