Tributes

Livestream Link for the service: https://vimeo.com/event/4739642 Marion Ellis was born on October 6, 1930. She was an extraordinary woman whose life was defined by her service to others and dedication to family. She was the eighth of nine children born to Florence Musgrave and Charles Augustus Shipley, and raised in Greenwich Village in Lower Manhattan during the challenges of the Great Depression and World War II. She graduated from Commerce High School in January of 1948, majoring in Stenography, and married Edmund John Ellis on September 7, 1949. From that union, her beloved daughter, Sandra Ellis (Brown), was born. In her career, Marion displayed a strong work ethic. Whether it was during her early roles at the Phipps Housing office and Lane Bryant, or her time handling customer billing at JCPenney, or her final position with a NYC Taxicab company, she always approached her work with diligence and attention to detail. Her commitment to customer service was so well-regarded that when a customer once complained, her boss instinctively defended her because he was so confident in her integrity. Marion’s resilience extended beyond the workplace as well. In 1967, she faced a life-threatening brain aneurysm, yet defied the odds with a miraculous recovery. Although her relatives came close to losing her, Marion survived and thrived for over half a century beyond that moment. Throughout her life, Marion prioritized family connections, often living close to her siblings and their families. She spent the early years of her married life on West 64th Street in the Phipps Housing project near her in-laws. Later, she moved to Co-op City in the Bronx to be near her youngest sister Margaret, her older brother James, and their families. She was always ready to support those in need, whether by helping a relative find a job or apartment, offering advice, or simply being a listening ear when someone needed her. Marion’s devotion extended beyond her immediate family as well. Her sisters, nieces, nephews, and extended relatives were part of a close-knit circle that she enriched with her presence and care. She also cherished moments spent with her sisters and sister-in-law as part of the Clusters, a group of women who enjoyed trips to Broadway, fine dining, and traveling to the Caribbean with Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm. Marion’s move to Round Rock, Texas, at nearly 80 years old to join her daughter Sandra and her family gave her another opportunity to be with her loved ones. She embraced her new surroundings and formed bonds in her church community at David Chapel, where she found joy participating in Sunday School and Platinum Plus events for years until health challenges prevented her from attending in person. Her family remembers her as an affectionate, clever, opinionated, and fiercely loyal woman. To her daughter Sandra (husband James), granddaughters Lisa (husband Larry), Tiffany, and Angela, and great-grandchildren Jayden and Aliya, she was more than a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother—she was a source of wisdom, humor, and love that will be deeply missed. Marion Ellis leaves behind a legacy of love that touched everyone privileged to know her. Her life was a testament to the beauty of family, faith, and connection, and her memory will continue to inspire all who knew her.

Tributes

Ms Marion Ellis

October 6, 1930 - November 11, 2024