Lonnie Mae Ellis

Lona Mae (Lonnie) Hill Ellis age 94 of Winston Salem passed away Friday February 10, 2023, at Trellis Supportive Care. A funeral service will be11:00 am Saturday February 18, 2023, at Davidson Funeral Home Hickory Tree Chapel conducted by Rev. Terry Parrish. Burial will follow in Hebron Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10-11 am Saturday prior to the service.

Mrs. Ellis was the youngest child born November 23, 1928, in Lexington to the late Carl Eugene Hill and Ida Victoria Sowers Hill.  Her family moved when Lona was a baby to Welcome, NC when it was just a small community of a few little white bungalows. Also, there was a small country store and a brand new school, Welcome Elementary, built in 1926. She graduated from that school as salutatorian and secretary of the last class to complete schooling in 11 years (1946). It was her desire to become a secretary and she enrolled in Draughan Business College. Shortly before graduation, she accepted a position as private secretary to Charles T. Fort, executive Director of Spruce Street YMCA. A position she kept until they closed its doors.  She then desired to do temp work for a while and worked for Bowman Gray School of Medicine until her retirement in 1993 so she spend time with her husband.  Her church affiliations were Center Methodist Church where she taught Sunday School using Baptist Material and Hebron United Church of Christ. She loved reading, cats, trees and flowers although she sadly said if she touched a plant it would die. She did enjoy gardening and even pulling up weeds. She proclaimed herself a lousy cook but enjoyed a collection of over 700 cookbooks.  Her husband, Bobby Gray Ellis preceded her in death 8-14-1995. She was also preceded in death by her sister, Gracie Marion Hege, Brothers: Lester David Hill, and Clifford Eugene Hill who died 1-5-1944 in WWII. Also preceded by a nephew, Robert Eugene Marion.

Surviving are a sister in law, Gladys Hill of Philadelphia, two nieces, two great nieces and six great nephews. Her friend and caregiver, Betty Lyons.

Special thanks to Brookridge Nursing Home and Trellis Supportive Care.

Memorials may be made to The Davidson County Animal Shelter, 490 Glendale Road, # 5828 Lexington NC 27292