CHUBBY ELLIS - William Mayo "Chubby" Ellis, Jr., age 84, of Richland, MS, formerly of Columbus, MS died August 15, 2009 at the Mississippi State Hospital in Whitfield, MS. Graveside services will be Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at 11:00 AM at Friendship Cemetery with Dr. Bobby Douglas officiating and Gunter & Peel Funeral Home directing. Visitation will be Monday, August 17, 2009, from 5:00-8:00 PM at Gunter & Peel Funeral Home. Mr. Ellis was born August 23, 1924 in Macon, MS to the late William Mayo and Gladys Beard Ellis, Sr. Chubby attended Franklin Academy and Lee High School and received his BA degree from the University of Mississippi in 1949. While at Ole Miss, Chubby served as Assistant Registrar and played linebacker on the football team that won the SEC Championship in 1947. He was a veteran of WWII serving as a flight engineer and top turret gunner on a B-17 with the 340th squadron, 97th bomber group, and 5th wing of the 15th Air Force in Italy. Chubby compiled the book, Lowndes County Mississippi, a photographic reminiscence of 150 years of Lowndes County. In 1983, he compiled the book, The History of the Mississippi Beef Cattle Business for the MS Department of Agriculture. Chubby coached football at several high school and junior colleges in MS and was a former member of the First Baptist Church of Columbus and was a current member of the First Baptist Church of Richland, MS. Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Miriam Ellis of Richland, MS, sons, William Mayo "Bill" Ellis, III (Peggy) of Alexandria, LA, and Chuck Ellis (Carmen) of Columbus, daughter, Stacy Ellis Burns (Clay) of Richland, MS, sister, Frances Hardy of Columbus, and grandchildren, Allie Ellis, Morgan Ellis, Taylor Ellis, McKenzie Ellis, Hanna Ellis, Anna Clair Burns, Callie Burns, Brandon Burns, and Payton Burns. Pallbearers will be grandsons and nephews. Honorary pallbearers will be Rodney Cadden, Oop Swoope, Rex Swedenburg, Johnny Bufkin, Frank Griffin, Billy Brewer, Rowe Rhett, David Payne, Jerry Franks, George Welch, Dugan Ellis, David Owen, Duke Berry, Greg Puckett, members of the Masonic Lodge and Odd Fellows, Sons of the Confederate Veterans, and Sons of the American Revolution. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Richland, MS Hwy 49 South Richland, MS 39218.
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