Ellen Grace Ellis, or “Amazing Grace,” as she was affectionately called, received her heavenly reward on Sunday, October 20, 2019 at the age of 86.
Born in Chatham County, NC, she was the daughter of the late Worth George and Verla Inez Peace Routh. Grace was a graduate of Robbins-Bennett High School and Appalachian State University in North Carolina. She was a retired elementary educator in the Greenville County School District and teacher at Duncan Chapel Elementary School. She was a long-time member of Taylors First Baptist Church. Grace enjoyed time with her family, neighbors, friends and members of her Sunday School class.
Grace was a music lover and a teacher, both qualities that her surviving family carry with them and share in their respective music communities.
She is survived by a daughter-in-law, Terri Turner Ellis (Platteville, WI); Keith’s fiancé, Shelia Pugh (Nashville, TN); a granddaughter, Sarah Routh Ellis (Brooklyn, NY); and a grandson, Daniel Turner Ellis (Athens, GA).
Grace was preceded in death by her loving husband, Dan Atkins Ellis, Professor Emeritus at Furman University, and her two musical sons, Barry Len Ellis (Platteville, WI) and Danny Keith Ellis (Nashville, TN).
The family would like to thank her caregivers, the staff and nurses at National Health Care in Greer and Caris Healthcare for their compassionate hospice care. Visitation will be held Friday, November 8, 2019 from 1 p.m. until 1:45 p.m. at Taylors First Baptist Church, with the funeral service to follow at 2 p.m. in the chapel. Burial will be held in Taylors First Baptist Church Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Dan Ellis Scholarship Fund at Furman University, 3300 Poinsett Highway, Greenville, SC 29613.
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.thomasmcafee.com.
Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Downtown Greenville, SC.