Elizabeth Ellison

Published 10:42 pm Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Elizabeth H. “Betty” Ellison, 77, of Suffolk, passed away Jan. 13, 2015. She was the daughter of the late Elizabeth Brown Hayes and Oscar Lee Hayes. Betty was a graduate of Suffolk High School and Sullins College.

She was a member of Main Street United Methodist Church, The Bridge Club and a past member of the Nansemond River Garden Club and Garden Club of Virginia. Betty began her working career at The Virginia Department of Transportation and Seaboard Bank. After taking time off to stay at home with her young children, she returned to work as the Lower School office manager at Nansemond Suffolk Academy. Following her retirement from NSA, she combined her entrepreneurial spirit and love of antiques as co-owner of The Willows Antiques and Ellison and Smith Estate Sales. She also served as a sales consultant at Duke Automotive.

Betty loved her friends and family fiercely. She enjoyed music, collecting antiques, cooking for her family and friends and gardening.

Betty is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Dr. Elizabeth Ellison Blangy and Patrick Blangy, of Richmond; son, John Roland Ellison IV and friend, Jessica Durham, of Suffolk; grandchildren, Michelle Hayes Ellison and Ellison Hayes Blangy; and sister, Virginia Hayes Hunter, of Richmond.

A funeral service will be held Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015, at 11 a.m. at Main Street United Methodist Church, 202 N. Main St., Suffolk, VA 23434 with the Rev. Myrtle F. Hatcher officiating. Burial will follow at Holly Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be held Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at Parr Funeral Home and Crematory, 3515 Robs Drive, Suffolk, VA 23434. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Suffolk Humane Society or the charity of your choice. Condolences may be registered online at www.parrfuneralhome.com.