Mrs. Bernice Raybourn Ellis, 88, of DeFuniak Springs, FL, passed away Jan. 22, 2007 in DeFuniak Springs, surrounded by her loving family. She was born July 26, 1918 in New Harmony, FL to Frank and Millie Mithem Raybourn.
Ellis had been a lifelong resident of Walton County. She was Baptist by faith and a member of the Westside Baptist Church. She loved attending church and singing gospel music. She was a retired dietician, working at the local hospital. She also owned and operated a fabric store in DeFuniak Springs.
She was a member of the local Eastern Star Chapter #115 DeFuniak Springs for over fifty years. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great grandmother.
Ellis was predeceased by her father and mother, Frank and Millie Mithem Raybourn; her husband, James Ellis; son, Melvin Williamson; grandsons, Melvin Williamson Jr., and Douglas Williamson; three sisters, and four brothers, Pearl Alford, Katie Hunt, Marie Nance, Dan, Cliff, Claude, and John Raybourn.
Ellis is survived by her son, Ruben Williamson, of DeFuniak Springs; step-son Charles Ellis, of Newnan, GA; two sisters, Inez Seaver of Dade City, FL and Evelyn Dearman of Alaska; seven grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were conducted Thursday, Jan. 25, 2007, at Clary-Glenn Funeral Home, with Rev. Randy Nelson officiating.
Burial followed in the Magnolia Cemetery.
[Source: The DeFuniak Springs Herald, February 8, 2007, Page 9B]
[Burial: Magnolia Cemetery, DeFuniak Springs]