Ellen Louise Theodore, a dedicated mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend and a long-time resident of the Gulfport area, passed on Thursday the 27th of May in Columbus, Georgia where she resided.

Born in 1955 in Laurel, MS, Ellen attended Harrison Central High School and received an Associate's degree in Administration from Columbus Technology School in 2006 and a Certificate in Business in 2008.

Ellen was an active member of Fourth Street Missionary Baptist church under the leadership of Pastor Dr. J.H. Flakes, Jr. She was a Sunday School
teacher for many years as well as a volunteer on the mission team going door to door in rural areas spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Ellen was a woman of many gifts. She enjoyed writing and story telling with a comedic flair. Everyone she met she made laugh or smile. She was known to call most of her grandkids by "P." She was a servant at heart. She gave to strangers in need and was always available for the "mission" God called her to. In 2000, she started the yearly Family and Friends Christmas party which is a cherished family tradition. Her favorite pastimes, was family gatherings and playing her favorite card game gin rummy. She loved to travel and flourished wherever she was planted.

Although Ellen was employed in retail management for most of her career: she also was a partner of a consignment store called Bold 7. She spent time working as a seamstress on the military base; altering uniforms and making servicemembers look their best. Her personality was perfect for her career field as she took pride in making customers feel like friends. In a retirement shift, she took a position at Goodwill Industries helping others find bargains as she was good at doing herself.

She is preceded in death by her father, James C. Taylor Sr., her mother Ellen P. Barnes; her granddaughter Alexis Sharice Dos Santos and great granddaughter Alexandria Penelope Vincent.

She leaves to cherish her memories; her two daughters Tanya (Tony) Geterof Smyrna, TN and Nicole Theodore of Columbus, GA; and two sons: Michael Theodore Jr., Cedric (Heather) Theodore Sr., both of Gulfport, MS.; eighteen grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, two brothers: James Taylor Sr., Charles (Janice) Taylor; three sisters: Bobbie Brook, Ella (Alsee) Butler, Erma (Michael) Ward and a host of aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, special cousins and close friends.