Agnes Marie (Wade) Ellis

Agnes Marie Wade Ellis was born on May 20, 1934. She was the fifth of eight children born to the union of Burnett, Sr. and Ora (Moore) Wade in Lee County, Texas. 

She accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior at an early age at Shorter Chapel A.M.E. Church in Giddings, Texas. Later in life, she joined the old Bethel Union Baptist Church and remained a faithful member until her health began to fail. While attending Bethel-St. Paul, she sang in the choir and served as treasurer. She participated in Mission I and served as secretary. She enjoyed the outings to the movies and dinner with her Mission sisters. She was also a faithful attendee at the LaGrange Baptist District Congress and Association and willingly served where needed. Agnes was also a member of the Lee County Mass Choir and the Southside Widows’ Club.

Agnes attended and graduated from the Giddings Colored School. After graduation,she began her first employment with Mr. and Mrs. Dorman Sells as a caregiver. During this employment, she traveled with them and began seeing the world. She was later employed at Lee Memorial Hospital and Dr. Mantzel’s clinic in Giddings, Texas. She retired from the Giddings State School after 25 years. She went on to work with the Giddings ISD and retired after 7 years.

Agnes was the proud mother of two loving and devoted daughters, Gwendolyn and Janice. Agnes was united in holy matrimony to Zack Ellis, Jr. To this union, a daughter was stillborn. Zack was serving in the military and Agnes and her daughters enjoyedtraveling the world with him. Their favorite place while he was in service was White Sands, New Mexico.

Agnes enjoyed spending time with family and friends. One of her greatest enjoyments came from her travels with her first cousin, Lorine Cook. They loved going on cruises and visiting casinos.

On the early morning of October 8th at the Austin RNC, the angels came and called Agnes to her final resting place. She was preceded in death by her parents, Burnett and Ora Wade; her husband, Zack Ellis, Jr.; five brothers, Vance B., Doris, Mack, Hugh Leslie and Burnett, Jr.; and two sisters, Marion and Willie Mae.

Agnes leaves to cherish her memory: her two loving and devoted daughters, Gwendolyn Sampson of Austin and Janice Rogan of Giddings, Texas; two grandchildren, Summer Pope of Scottsdale, Arizona and LeJean L. Sampson of Austin, Texas; one great grandson, LeJean T. Sampson (Maria); three great great grandchildren, Lyric, Kaiden, Ella of Creedmoor, Texas; two sisters, Annetta Shepard of Giddings, Texas and Helen (Rev. Ira Shields) of Austin, Texas; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

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