Elza O Ellis

Mother Elza Carter Owen Ellis, 93, was born on April 27, 1931, to the late Dallas and Lillian Carter in Wabbaseka, Arkansas. She peacefully transitioned on March 9, 2025.

Elza was a faithful member of New Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church under the leadership of Pastor Thomas L. Gipson, Jr. and former Pastor Napolean Davis, Jr. She attended faithfully until her health declined.

Elza graduated from the Wabbaseka School District and attended the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (UAPB). She worked on the family farm, where she raised her only son Cloyd C. Smith.

The youngest of nine children, Elza was preceded her in death by her sister Gloriazel and brothers Dallas, Armstead, Flanders, Achillers, Bessemer, Ressemer, and Clyde. She was also preceded in death by her husbands Judge Owen and Rufus Ellis, son Cloyd Smith, great-grandson Learthur Shelton, Jr., special niece and nephew Doris Carter and Clayton Coppage, bonus daughter and son Barbra Ellis and Rufus Ellis, and daughter-in-law Ethel Ellis.

Elza leaves to cherish her memories her caretakers, with whom she lived for the past thirteen years granddaughter and grandson-in-law Ministers Robert and Belinda Caroll, along with her great-grandsons Howard Larry and William Larry; granddaughter Annette Milton; grandsons Clyde (Angela) Smith and Kenneth (Carla) Smith; daughter-in-law Willie Mae Smith; sister-in-law Josephine Carter; fourteen great-grandchildren; twenty-eight great-great-grandchildren; bonus children, the Ellis children; and a host of bonus grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and many other relatives and friends whom she loved and they loved her dearly.

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