Funeral Information
Location:
Hadley Davis Funeral Home
Date: 04-05-2025
Time: 10:00 AM
Time: 10:00 AM
Visitation Information
Location:
Hadley Davis Funeral Home
Date:
Time:
Time:
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Obituary
A Time to Be Born:
Lena Bell Elam, also known as “Mens,” was born in Lincolnton, Georgia, on January 26, 1940, to the late Mr. John Baptist (Mandy Bussey) Elam.
A Time to Live:
Lena was educated in the Lincolnton County school system in Lincolnton, Georgia. She later moved to Coconut Grove, Florida, with her older sister, Annie Mae, in 1958. Once she arrived in Coconut Grove, she did domestic cleaning and baby sitting.
A Time to Love:
On the bus stop while waiting for a bus, she was approached and laid her sights on a handsome young man by the name of Abron Ellison. The two quickly fell in love and united in holy matrimony in 1959. This union, lasting sixty-six years, was blessed with four offspring. Lena Bell continued to do domestic cleaning and baby sitting. She was a loving mother and a devoted wife to her husband of sixty-six years. Her caring and nurturing nature touched the lives of so many. She will be forever remembered as Mens. Mens loved spending time with her loved ones, especially her grands and great-grands. Mens’ and Abron’s home was known as a safe haven, a place one could stop by and receive welcoming arms, a good hot meal, great conversation, a hot shower, and nurturing care when you weren’t at your best. Mens was a wise woman, who always had a kind word, and a heart made of gold. She enjoyed cooking, cleaning, gardening, fishing, and baby sitting her grands and others. This is something Mens enjoyed doing, no matter who you were or where the kids came from. Mens was on her sick bed of affliction, thinking about the kids reminding them to eat because she had food on the stove. She did that until her time of death. Mens took good care of her children and grandchildren. Her and Abron took care of their family and other families in the community. Mens always thanked God no matter the situation; she would always say, “Thank you, Lord.” She lived, loved, and laughed. A journey fulfilled indeed!
A Time to Serve:
Lena Bell was a dedicated deaconess at St. Johns Freewill Baptist Church. Later, she transferred her membership to Browns Chapel, where she was also known as a deaconess.
A Time to Rest:
Lena Bell Ellison at the age of eighty-five entered eternal peace on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at her residence. She was preceded in death by her husband of sixty-six years of marriage, Abron Ellison; parents, John Baptist and Mandy Bussey Elam; and she was the seventh sibling of eleven and those who preceded her in death were Ruby Mae, Toni, George (Whammy), Roosevelt (Nig), Eugene (Jean), Lawrence (Joe Boy), Annie Mae, and Robert (Dick) Elam.
A Time to Mourn:
Lena had one son, Jimmy Ellison; daughters, Patsy Williams, Patricia Metayer (Jean), and Shirley Ellison-Priestly (Richard); one sister, Joann Elam; two brothers, James Elam and Jessie (Glenda) Elam; grandchildren, James Sikes (Sabrina), Erica Williams, Cornelius Bembry, Shanedra Williams, Jason Bembry, Za’kia (Lance) Williams-Hayes, Tiffany Rozier, Amanda Forcer, Crystal Williams, Ma’Tosh Priestly, and Jean Metayer; twenty-four great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren; honorary sons, Amad Smith, Laban West, Richard Priestly, Lee Simmons, and Lamar Gulley; fifteen godchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, and other family and close friends.
Lena Bell Elam, also known as “Mens,” was born in Lincolnton, Georgia, on January 26, 1940, to the late Mr. John Baptist (Mandy Bussey) Elam.
A Time to Live:
Lena was educated in the Lincolnton County school system in Lincolnton, Georgia. She later moved to Coconut Grove, Florida, with her older sister, Annie Mae, in 1958. Once she arrived in Coconut Grove, she did domestic cleaning and baby sitting.
A Time to Love:
On the bus stop while waiting for a bus, she was approached and laid her sights on a handsome young man by the name of Abron Ellison. The two quickly fell in love and united in holy matrimony in 1959. This union, lasting sixty-six years, was blessed with four offspring. Lena Bell continued to do domestic cleaning and baby sitting. She was a loving mother and a devoted wife to her husband of sixty-six years. Her caring and nurturing nature touched the lives of so many. She will be forever remembered as Mens. Mens loved spending time with her loved ones, especially her grands and great-grands. Mens’ and Abron’s home was known as a safe haven, a place one could stop by and receive welcoming arms, a good hot meal, great conversation, a hot shower, and nurturing care when you weren’t at your best. Mens was a wise woman, who always had a kind word, and a heart made of gold. She enjoyed cooking, cleaning, gardening, fishing, and baby sitting her grands and others. This is something Mens enjoyed doing, no matter who you were or where the kids came from. Mens was on her sick bed of affliction, thinking about the kids reminding them to eat because she had food on the stove. She did that until her time of death. Mens took good care of her children and grandchildren. Her and Abron took care of their family and other families in the community. Mens always thanked God no matter the situation; she would always say, “Thank you, Lord.” She lived, loved, and laughed. A journey fulfilled indeed!
A Time to Serve:
Lena Bell was a dedicated deaconess at St. Johns Freewill Baptist Church. Later, she transferred her membership to Browns Chapel, where she was also known as a deaconess.
A Time to Rest:
Lena Bell Ellison at the age of eighty-five entered eternal peace on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at her residence. She was preceded in death by her husband of sixty-six years of marriage, Abron Ellison; parents, John Baptist and Mandy Bussey Elam; and she was the seventh sibling of eleven and those who preceded her in death were Ruby Mae, Toni, George (Whammy), Roosevelt (Nig), Eugene (Jean), Lawrence (Joe Boy), Annie Mae, and Robert (Dick) Elam.
A Time to Mourn:
Lena had one son, Jimmy Ellison; daughters, Patsy Williams, Patricia Metayer (Jean), and Shirley Ellison-Priestly (Richard); one sister, Joann Elam; two brothers, James Elam and Jessie (Glenda) Elam; grandchildren, James Sikes (Sabrina), Erica Williams, Cornelius Bembry, Shanedra Williams, Jason Bembry, Za’kia (Lance) Williams-Hayes, Tiffany Rozier, Amanda Forcer, Crystal Williams, Ma’Tosh Priestly, and Jean Metayer; twenty-four great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren; honorary sons, Amad Smith, Laban West, Richard Priestly, Lee Simmons, and Lamar Gulley; fifteen godchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, and other family and close friends.