Betty Delores Ellis

Mrs. Betty Delores Ellis was born on September 21, 1933, to the union of Rev. James L. Roberts and Queen Victoria Roberts, in La Grange, Kentucky. Family members called her Delores, not to confuse her name with her “Grandma Betty” and other family members with the name Betty. While growing up Delores would accompany her Dad when he went out on missionary assignments. She would keep attendance records and make food and lodging arrangements during their stay. Delores graduated from Central High School in Louisville, Kentucky in 1951 and enrolled in Kentucky State College to study education. Delores graduated from Kentucky State in 1956 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education and received a job teaching kindergarten in Joliet, Illinois. She continued her studies at the University of Louisville receiving a Masters in Special Education and at IUPUI, completing a certificate for educating the Hard of Hearing and Deaf. Delores has many memories of gathering her students and taking them to the market to hunt for the proper pumpkins to carve and put up in the classroom.

On November 7, 1959 Delores married Charles Ellis, Sr., which was Election Day. They had two children, Gaynell Jones and Charles John Ellis, Jr. In 1970, Delores and her family moved to Indianapolis, where she continued her career as an educator teaching at Indianapolis Public Schools #19, Pleasant Run Elementary, and Tech High School. Delores was selected as the Teacher of the Year in 1992 for school #19.

Delores was not only a life-long educator, but also a woman of faith. She accepted Christ at an early age at Bates Memorial Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. Delores played the piano for Bates Memorial Children’s Choir and area churches for Sunday night services. When her father became the Pastor at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, Delores continued to share her music talent playing piano and organ for the Children’s and Senior Choir and directed musical groups as well. When the family moved to Indianapolis, she was recruited to play for Pastor L. E. Irvin at Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church. Delores served faithfully until she and the family moved their membership to 25th Street Baptist Church in 1999, where her son, Rev. Charles J. Ellis, Jr. was called as the Pastor of the church. As a cornerstone of the family, one of the great joys of Delores’ life were her children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces. She loved spending time with them and telling a multitude of stories about the family history and her life experiences. There were many family events where children would gather around her laughing as she told delightful stories of the past.

Betty Delores Ellis departed this life on Sunday, October 23, 2022 at the age of 89. In addition to her parents, Delores was preceded in death by her husband Charles John Sr., her son Charles John, Jr., her brothers James and Vernie, and her sister Jewel. She leaves to cherish her memory her daughter (Gaynell), sister (Vivian), daughter in-law (Tonya), granddaughter (Victoria), granddaughter (BreAnn) and grandson (John) and a host of nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.

Humbly Submitted…………………….The Family