Dr. Elbert Milton Ross, Jr.

Dr. Elbert Milton Ross Jr. , age 75, of Smyrna, TN, passed away on Tuesday, May 16, 2017, peacefully in his sleep. Dr. Ross was born in Shelby, North Carolina to the late Milton ”Bud” and Maybell Poston Ross. Dr. Ross is survived by his loving and devoted wife Doris of Smyrna; son, John and his wife Sharalee of Murfreesboro, TN; brothers, Dr. Louie Ross and his wife Lynn of Raleigh, NC, Roger Ross and his wife Suzette of Shelby, NC and Lander Ross of Durham, NC; sisters, Randa Jean Powell and her husband Floyd of Somerset, NJ and Barbara Haynes and her husband Robert “Preacher” of Shelby,NC; grandchildren Leah and Jaylee; and a host of nieces, nephews , cousins and friends. Dr. Ross began working in Metro Nashville Public Schools as a teacher in 1968, left to pursue further education and returned in 1972. He became an assistant principal in December 1973 and after earning a PhD from Ohio State University, he returned to Nashville as an assistant principal in 1978. Dr. Ross was an executive principal from 1982 to 2001. When he retired, he served as adjunct professor at Motlow Community College in Smyrna and in other Middle Tennessee Colleges over the last twenty-five years. Dr. Ross was awarded principal of the year twice for the Tennessee Association of Middle Schools and e was State Principal of the year once for the National Secondary School Principals. Locally Dr. Ross served on the Town of Smyrna Beer Board and he was also former vice chairman on the Community Prevention Initiative Task Force in 1996, having been appointed by former Tennessee Governor Donald Sundquist. Services to celebrate Dr. Ross will be at Twelve noon on Saturday May 27, 2017 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church located at 2261 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37217 with Elder Darryl M. Taliaferro, executive pastor, presiding. Placement will follow at Woodlawn Memorial Park in Nashville. Dr. Ross was preceded in death by his parents, Milton “Bud” and Maybell Poston Ross and two sisters, Ola Mae and Frances. Dr. Ross loved reading, singing and going to the movies on Friday afternoon. In lieu of customary floral tributes, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, 200 Charlotte Avenue Nashville, TN 37203. The family of Dr. Elbert Milton Ross, Jr. wishes to thank Tennessee Oncology and Alive Hospice staff members for the care given to our beloved Elbert. To leave thoughts or memories, visit, www.roselawnfh.com. Friends are cordially invited to visitation from Eleven o’clock until the time of the service at Twelve noon on Saturday May 27, 2017 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Antioch, TN. Roselawn Funeral Home, 5350 NW Broad Street, Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37129, 615-893-2742