Freddie Mae Ellison, 85, of Woodbine transitioned to be with the Lord on Wednesday, May 12, 2021.
Sister Freddie Mae Williams Ellison, affectionally known to many as “Granny,” was born in White Oak on Nov. 27, 1935, to the late Osborne and Nora Lee Williams. She accepted Christ at an early age and joined Enterprise Baptist Church. After she married, she became a dedicated member of Madison Chapel A.M.E. Church, where she served for many years. Later in life, she joined Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church, where she worshipped until she departed this life.
Sister Ellison attended school in Camden County and graduated from Ralph J. Bunche High School in Woodbine. After graduating, she attended cosmetology school in Jacksonville, Florida, where she earned a certification in cosmetology in 1955. Sister Ellison was a well-known hairdresser and business owner of Hair Focus in Camden County for many years. She was also employed at Kraft Bag for several years prior to pursuing entrepreneurship.
Sister Ellison met and married the love of her life, Levonia Ellison Sr., in 1956. The couple celebrated 64 years of marriage in September 2020.
Sister Ellison was preceded in death by her parents, Osborne and Nora Lee Williams; two sisters, Edna Williams Dunham and Shirley Williams Myers; a son, Levonia Ellison Jr.; a daughter, Gloria Lynn Ellison-Whitaker; two grandchildren, Rodriquez Ellison and Jada Ellison; and a nephew who was more like a son, Clifford Dunham.
She leaves to cherish her memories her husband, Levonia Ellison Sr., Woodbine; three daughters, Cynthia Ellison, Bowie, Maryland, Beverly (Isiah) Chance, Cairo, and Edna (Aubrey) Randall, Kingsland; she adopted two of her biological grandchildren, Ahmad Ellison, Philadelphia, and Taie’sha Ellison, Brunswick; one sister, Carleatha Barbary, Miami; four brothers, Osborne (Aileen) Williams Jr., Woodbine, Robert (Flora) Rudolph, Woodbine, Edward (Annette) Williams, Boston, and Alan (Jeanette) Williams, Lawton, Oklahoma; one sister-in-law, Queen Ester Barber, Eulonia; one brother-in-law, Solomon Myers Sr., Jacksonville; five grandchildren, Eboni Chance, Warner Robins, Katrina Chance, Warner Robins, Jasrriel Dawkins, Woodbine, Ryan Benford, Woodbine, and Makaila Knight, Jacksonville; seven great-grandchildren, Jada Thomas, Jaylon Thomas and Jayvon Thomas, all of Cairo, Aydin Anderson and A’mani Ellison, both of Philadelphia, Messiah Holiday, Warner Robins, and Sevyn Merriweather, Jacksonville; a nephew who is more like a son, Anthony (Phyllis) Dunham, Woodbine; two godchildren, Mike Wilson, St. Marys, and Charmin Jacobs, Lake Ridge, Virginia; a special friend and confidant, Debra Moore-Capers, Albany; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Granny has fed many and was known for her homemade biscuits and sweet potato pies.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 22, at Woodbine Cemetery, Highway 110, Woodbine. A public walk-thru viewing will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Friday, May 21, at Sunset Funeral Home. Viewing will also be held one hour prior to the service. Mask and social distancing are required.
Sunset Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.