Ellen Ellis Powell, age 93, ended her earthly journey on September 7th, 2026, after a brief illness at Barbour Court in Smithfield, NC. Her strong belief in her Heavenly Father buoyed her always in her time of need as was evidenced through her life and especially in her last days.

Ellen was born in Macclesfield, NC to the late Reverend and Mrs. Thomas Preston Ellis. In addition to her father and mother, she is preceded in death by her son, Joe, her husband Jimmy, and 4 brothers: AJ, Bobby, Otis, and Edward Gray. Surviving are her granddaughter, Meredith Tyson of Rocky Point, NC; three sisters: Gerry Rabon of Aiken, SC, Sue Smith of Plymouth, NC, and Phyllis Parrish of Smithfield, NC, 2 sisters-in-law: Evelyn Ellis of Richlands, NC, and Linda Ellis of Savannah, Georgia, and one brother-in-law, John Smith of Plymouth, NC. Several nieces and a nephew remain to revere her memory.

Ellen was a self-motivated woman who gave her best to whatever profession she chose and during her 93 years, she had several. She was a certified ophthalmic assistant for 17 years to ophthalmologist Dr. Lubin Bullard and an assistant to Dr. Tom Marshburn for 2 1/2 years, both in Wilmington. Ellen relocated to Reidsville, NC in 1989, and worked at Pennrose Park Country Club in management for 17 years. During those years, she planned 158 wedding receptions along with many special occasion parties. Entertaining was absolutely her niche in life.

After Ellen’s first retirement from Pennrose Park Country Club in 2006, she wrote two cookbooks which were featured in an article about Ellen in June 2007 in Our State Magazine. In the fall of 2007, Ellen went back to work for Pennrose Park Country Club and retired again in December 2011 at the age of 78. Because of her love for entertaining, Ellen was known as the Martha Stewart of Reidsville She kept her table set beautifully for every season and holiday, thoroughly enjoying entertaining family and friends. And just maybe she will write another cookbook. Perhaps, at this moment she is planning a Thanksgiving meal …

Ellen loved nature and felt God’s presence through growing flowers and herbs. She even had a beautiful flower garden in her nineties at Autumn Home Care Assisted Living outside of Selma, where she resided the last 6 1/2 years of her life.

A memorial service will be Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Centenary United Methodist Church in Smithfield, NC. A private interment will take place in Wilmington at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Ellen Ellis Powell Culinary Arts Fund at Johnston Community College in Smithfield, NC, to support students pursuing careers in the field of culinary arts.

Checks may be made out to:

Johnston Community College Foundation with “Ellen Ellis Powell Culinary Arts Fund” noted in the memo line.

Checks may be mailed to:

The Johnston Community College Foundation

P.O. Box 2350

Smithfield, NC 27577