Obituary of Rufus Ellison Jr.

Mr. Rufus Ellison, Jr. was born October 28, 1937 in Florence County, South Carolina to Mr. Rufus, Sr. and Mrs. Mettie Barr Ellison.  He was the second of ten children.  He departed this life on Monday, September 11, 2017 after an illness.

At an early age, Rufus, Jr. joined and was baptized at Pee Dee Baptist Church in Pamplico, SC.  He attended the public schools of Florence County and graduated from Gibbs High School in 1957. He then moved to Newark, New Jersey with his cousin, Mae Parker, who helped him obtain his first job at the Paper Factory of Newark.  Throughout his life, Rufus. Jr. also worked at Finklea’s Restaurant, Marsh Lumber Company, and as a Sharecropper with his parents.  He made sure his father was able to build a home for his family before settling in Newark, NJ.

Rufus, Jr. was preceded in death by six biological siblings: Bernie and Otis Ellison, Ruby (Edward) McLeod, Elsie (Sam) Hugee, Margie Spears, and Catherine Guiles; and two cousins raised as brothers in the home: Edward Lee and James Ellison.

Left to cherish his precious memories are: his wife, Beatrice “Peaches” Ellison of the home; children; grandchildren; one brother, Roy (Maxine Ellison) of Newark, NJ; one cousin raised as a brother, LJ Ellison of Miami, FL; two sisters, Melva (Hodges) Parker of Pamplico, SC and Gracie Ellison of Florence, SC; two sisters-in-law, Mary Ellison of Piscataway, NJ and Easter Ellison of Afton, VA; one brother-in-law, Ronald Guiles of Florence, SC; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.