Rebekah Ellis

A graduate of Shelby High School and Meredith College, Rebekah taught high school at Grover, then married Yancey Ellis in Shelby on 5/31/1944. The couple moved to Wilmington, NC where Yancey worked in the shipyard and Rebekah taught school at Castle Hayne, NC. Following her mother's illness, Rebekahand Yancey returned to Shelby in 1945 and she taught at Mooresboro, NC. When Yancey decided to start Ellis Lumber Co. on July 30, 1946, Rebekah served as Vice President and was one of the founders of the company. They used their life savings of $1200 as initial capital to start the business. Rebekah was the bookkeeper during the early years until the children started arriving in 1948. I addition to raising her 4 children, Rebekah served actively at Zoar Bapt. Ch. where she taught Sunday School for 30 years. A strong supporter of foreign missions, she helped revitalize the Women's Missionary Union. In 1988, she took a one year leave of absence to serve on an organizing team to start a new church, Christopher Road Baptist Church. Rebekah wsas also active in the Daughters of theAmerican Revolution, the United Daughters of the Confederacy, and the Children of Confederacy.
Her parents were the late Baxter Cleveland & Ida Hamrick Putnam.
She is survived by daughter's & husband's; Becky & Jim Adams, Karen & Don Clark, sons & wives; Tim & Lynn Ellis, Scott & Jeanne Ellis.
Grandchildren: Amanda Adams, David Adams, Elizabeth & husband Kris Keilhack, Hanna & husband Jon Speights, Jessica Clarke, Susannah Clarke, Gloria Clarke, Jushua Clarke, Rebecca Clarke, Noah Clarke, Stephanie Ellis, Bradley Ellis. One great grandchild Joanna Speights.