Mr. Donald Gray Ellis (76), of Elm City, NC, died on Tuesday, March 12th.  Mr. Ellis' funeral will take place on Saturday, March 30th at 11 am at North End Missionary Baptist Church located at 500 East Grand Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC.  Pastor Jim Bell, of First United Methodist Church, will be the eulogist. Burial will follow at Evergreen Memorial Park, 2800 Nash St. N., Wilson. The family will assemble at 9:30 am at the residence for the processional.

A public viewing will be held on Saturday, March 30th from 10 am to 11 am at the church.

Zoom Information:

Funeral Service for Donald G. Ellis
Saturday, March 30, 2024 at 11 am (You may login to Zoom beginning at 10:30 am.)

For the sanctity of the service, please mute your microphone and turn off your video during its entirety. Thank you.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82569719224?pwd=Q0V6eE5lU2wwS3U4cjAwUnR3emF3QT09

Meeting ID: 825 6971 9224
Passcode: 578970

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Please direct your condolence to edwardscares.com.

Donald Gray Ellis was born on February 16, 1948, to the late William Ellis and Cleo Eatmon in Wilson County, North Carolina, and raised in Elm City by the late George Herman and Clara Moore. He attended school in Wilson County and graduated from Frederick Douglass High School in 1966. Shortly after graduation, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and fought in the Vietnam War. Honorably discharged from active duty in 1969, he remained in the Reserves until 1974.

After serving in the military, Don moved to Washington, DC, and lived with his late sister Doris. He attended Washington Technical Institute (now the University of the District of Columbia) and earned an Associate's degree in Allied Health Science, majoring in Mortuary Science, in 1977. Upon graduating, he worked as an embalmer and continued to do so full-time and part-time for several years. He continued his studies at UDC, completing two years of coursework in Accounting Technology.

Don had a 31-year career with the Federal government at the National Institutes of Health. He worked in multiple positions for NIH's Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, for 11 years before transitioning to serving as a Grants Management Specialist. After working as a Grants Management Specialist for 10 years, he moved to North Carolina. He worked for another NIH institute as a Grants Management Specialist until retiring in 2014.

Don was raised in the church by his late parents, George Herman, and Clara Moore. However, life's difficulties, mainly the Vietnam War, separated him from the church. However, in his early 40s, Don recommitted his life to the Lord and would continue a life of service, including acting Treasurer of Bethesda United Methodist Church, volunteering in a soup kitchen, serving on the outreach committee, and being a representative for the shelter house and lead representative for the Jobs for Life program at First United Methodist Church in Wilson, NC (his final place of worship).

Don grew up farming with his father, Herman, and cherished the lessons he learned during that time. After retirement, he enjoyed gardening, growing fruits and vegetables, and caring for his home. He served as national treasurer and scholarship chairperson of his high school alumni association and continued providing immeasurable support to anyone in need. In 2016, Don met Nancy Bell, who served as the head nurse at Wilson Hospital for his late sister Shirley. They kindled a romance, got engaged, and remained so until his passing.

On March 12, 2024, after suffering a devastating medical emergency, Don took his trip to heaven and entered eternal rest with The Father. He was preceded in death by siblings Jarmin, William, Herman, Lula, Doris, Shelby, and Shirley. He will be missed immensely and is survived by his brother Franklin, sisters Vicky and Dorothy; daughters Shannon and Shardonia (Mallya); grandchildren Anthony, David, Shammond, and Glory; nephew Stacey and niece Sophia; Children in love Shevaughn, Alicia (Darius), Aubrey and Andre; Grandchildren in love Aiyanna, Amiya, Zacari, Zaniah, Aaliyah, Apollo, and Alexandria; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, good friends and church family. Don loved God, life, and others!