Sophia Jestine Ellis

Sophia J. Ellis, also affectionately known as "Popgood" and "Big Mama," was born on January 22, 1931 in Louisville, KY, the second child to Mattie and Justice Redd.

She confessed her faith in Christ at the age of eight years old. Sophia was baptized at Leonard Baptist Church, and later converted to the Lutheran faith in 1975. Bethesda Lutheran Church became her new church home. Sophia moved to St. Louis, Missouri at the age of 5 years old, and was educated in the St. Louis Public School system.

She graduated from Vashon High School, and attended the former Harris-Stowe Teacher's College. She met, fell in love, and married Ernest L. Ellis of Hattiesburg, Mississippi in March 1952. They were married for forty-four wonderful years. To their union, three children were born, one daughter and two sons. Sophia was a faithful servant of God. A devoted Mother, Grandmother, and Great-Grandmother, her loving and caring spirit reached out and touched so many lives as she tried to help anyone she could. She was the life of the party and loved to dance. She was a homemaker while her children were young, and later worked outside of the home with the IRS, Carr Elementary School, and eventually the Federal Government where she retired after 29 years in June 1993.

Sophia kept an immaculate home that was warm, loving and truly a place of gathering for family and friends. She was well known for her great cooking skills and hosting annual holiday feasts. Sophia's health started to decline in 2011. She decided to relocate to Georgia to live with her daughter/caregiver. God called Sophia called home from this life to eternal life on Saturday, July 1, 2017 at Church Home Healthcare & Rehabilitation. She was 86 years old.

Sophia is preceded in death by her parents, an infant brother, her husband Ernest Ellis, a son Patrick, and grandson, Julian.

She leaves to cherish her memory, two children, Eric Todd Ellis (Doriane) of St. Louis, Missouri and Ireland Kimberly Heron of Bonaire, Georgia; two grandchildren, Kristopher T. Ellis (Ashley) of St. Louis, Missouri and Eric C. Heron (Jennifer) of Kathleen, Georgia; three great-grandchildren, Kaden, Savannah, and Eden Ellis of St. Louis, Missouri; two sisters-in-law, Louise Ellis, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi and Emma Ellis of Muskegon, Michigan; brother-in-law, Benjamin Ellis, also of Hattiesburg, Mississippi; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, Helen "Till" Levels, Elaine Cole, Dorothy Sheets, and Alma Reynolds of St. Louis, Missouri; and friends. Special mention to dear, lifelong and faithful friends: Jeanette Luckey, Thelma Brown, Iva Washington, Yvonne Hampton, the families of the late Warnetta Ivy, Melverna Shelton, and Elnora Mitchell; and personal home nurse, Mrs. Sharline Williams.

Visitation will be Thursday, July 13, 2017 from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Wade Twin Chapel of Wade Funeral Home in St. Louis, Missouri. A funeral service will be held on Friday, July 14, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Wade Twin Chapel of Wades Funeral Home. Mrs. Ellis will be laid to rest in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery with her husband. The family will receive friends after the graveside service at the Repast.


Funeral Home:
McCullough Funeral Home
417 S. Houston Lake Rd.
Warner Robins, GA
US 31088