A Celebration of Life service for LM Ellis Jr., age 79, of Clarksville, TN, will be Wednesday, June 8, 2022, at 12 p.m. at Sykes Funeral Home. Overseer Danelle Stephens with Ezra Emmanuel Ministries will officiate. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral home and again on Wednesday from 10 a.m. until the time of service.
LM was born on April 20, 1943 in Woodlawn, TN, to LM Sr. and Sadie Stewart Ellis. He passed away on June 1, 2022. LM was the oldest member of Ezra Emmanuel Ministries and a veteran of the United States Army. He enjoyed spending time with his family, fishing, traveling, and playing basketball.
LM’s basketball career started at Burt High School and continued at Austin Peay State University where he became the first African American basketball player in the Ohio Valley Conference. LM earned his Bachelor’s Degree from APSU and was the owner and operator of The Ellis Group Consulting Inc.
In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his sisters, Betty Ellis and Cheryl Meadows; and long-time mentor Coach Dave Whitney.
LM is survived by his wife, Mary Ellis; children: Yvetta Denise (Darrel) Johnson, Jon Ellis, and Camilla Ellis; step-daughters: Monica (Herman) Barham, Tomeka (Jamie) Posley, and Roszena McRae; sisters, Susie Barker and Mary “LaVerne” Bryant; grandchildren: Marcus (Susan), Jzsade, Joi, Gigi, Jon Charles, Aubrey, Aiden, Alize, Kianna, Javonte, Josiah, Maliquea, Herman IV; great-grandson, Enzo; Lisa, Libby, Doreen, and Dave Whitney, Jr. who were like family to him; and faithful companion, his beloved dog Boney.