Mary Scharlene Ellis, 83, of Cleveland, Tennessee, died on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 after a short illness.
She was born April 9, 1933, in Cleveland, TN. She was the daughter of the late Charlie Cleve and Susie Moore Green. She received her education in the City Schools of Cleveland and the Academy of Lee College. She worked at Lee College Library until the Church of God School of Theology was established, at which time she transferred there as registrar and bookkeeper. She registered the first student at the school. She worked for many years as a secretary. She retired in 1996 as executive secretary of the Salvation Army in High Point, NC.
She was had been a resident of High Point since 1982, and returned to Cleveland in 2011 to be near her sisters, Tennie and Sarah. In Cleveland, she was a member of the North Cleveland Church of God and the Crusader Choir. In High Point, she was a member of the Oak View Baptist Church. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 106.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, George Samuel Ellis, Sr.; son, Charles Samuel Ellis; parents, Charlie Cleve and Susie Moore Green; sister, Nellie Holder; and brother, Earl Green.
She is survived by three grandchildren, Charles Joseph “Joey” Ellis and wife, Jennifer, Charlotte Ellis Sheets and husband, Nicholas all of High Point, NC, and George Samuel Ellis II and wife, Chasity of Pfafftown, NC; seven great-grandchildren, Georgia Breanne Sheets, Caroline Bristol Sheets, Nicholas Alexander Sheets, Jr.,Charles Samuel Ellis, II, Jack Conner Ellis, Olivia Nicole Ellis, Rachel Marie Ellis and Rileigh Nicole Ellis; two sisters, Tennie R. Dispain and husband, Ralph and Sarah V. Phillips both of Cleveland; several special nieces and nephews; god-son, Tyler Swafford; best friends, Gail and Jim Stevens; and special caregiver, Kayla Carroll.
A Celebration of Life service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 7, in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home.
The family will receive friends from 1-2 p.m. at the Ralph Buckner Funeral Home, who has charge of the arrangements.