Elkhart – Essie M. Ellis, 85, passed away at 3:45am on Sunday, March 22, 2020 in Elkhart General Hospital.

Essie was born in  Cotton Plant, Arkansas on June 5, 1934 to the late John Henry Ellis and Myrtle Mae Mansker.

Essie was preceded in death by brother; Silas E. Ellis; sisters, Teola M. Whittier, Jessie Lee Dancy, and Brenda J. Ellis; and four infant siblings.

Essie is survived by her children, Harvey L. Sanders, and Maurice M. Brantley, of Elkhart, IN Gregory Brantley of Memphis, TN and Anthony Brantley, of Jackson, TN; brothers, Johnny L. Ellis, Larry E. Ellis, and Franchie L. Ellis all of St. Louis, MO; sisters, Catherine Marbly, of Milwaukee, WI, Vivian Jamison, of Tulsa, OK, Joreatha Gray, of West Memphis, AR, LaVern Valiant, Helen Smith, and Dorothy Heard all of St. Louis, MO.

Essie retired from Homecrest Corp. in 1998.

A Funeral Service will be Monday April 6, 2020 at 12:00 pm at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church on Garfield St., where the Rev. Danny Brown will officiate services.  CHAPEL HILL FUNERAL HOME, 10776 McKinley Hwy, Osceola, IN 46561 is assisting the family with arrangements. Burial will be in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Osceola, IN.