LaVonne P. Ellis

Lavonne Parker Ellis was born on January 19, 1943 in Rich Square, North Carolina as the youngest of four siblings, to Roosevelt and Theresa H. Parker. She departed this life peacefully on February 8, 2018 at her home in Chesapeake, Virginia. She enjoyed the years she attended the public schools in Northampton County, North Carolina and was especially pleased when business courses were added to the curriculum. This was an incentive to work harder and become an excellent student. After graduation she followed her siblings and entered Hampton Institute in Hampton, Virginia majoring in Business Education. While there she had many positive experiences, and met many students who became lifelong friends. In 1964 she proudly received a Bachelor of Science Degree. Later, she matriculated at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia and received a Masters of Education Degree in 1970. Her education did not stop there, however, because she continued to take very difficult courses to keep up with the rapid growth in the field of technology.

At an early age she was baptized and joined the Rising Star Baptist Church in Branchville, Virginia. For all of her childhood, this church was a special place where she could not only commune with God but also enjoy the company of the members of her large family. Upon graduation from Hampton Institute she moved to Portsmouth, Virginia, where she attended Third Baptist Church and then Greater Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Chesapeake before joining The Historic First Baptist Church, Bute Street in Norfolk. For a short time she sang in the Women’s Chorus, later she diligently worked with the Scholarship Ministry, chaired the Scholarship Luncheon and served as member of the Board for Shepherd’s Village Assisted Living Facility.

In May 1966 she married the love of her life, Holland D. Ellis, Jr. To this union was born one son, Hollis D. Ellis. Her beautiful marriage was ended by the untimely death of her husband in 1987, but she clung to her faith, remained in her home, raised her son and kept the memory of Holland alive.

Her career as a business teacher began in 1964 at I.C. Norcom and Cradock High Schools in Portsmouth and ended nearly three decades later in 2001 when she retired from Tidewater Community College. A competent and caring teacher, she taught thousands of students in Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake, always supporting them inside and outside the classroom. What an impact she left on the young people who were fortunate enough to have her as a teacher.

Upon retirement she continued her career as an independent insurance agent selling insurance with many different insurance providers including AFLAC and Blue Cross Blue Shield just to name a few.

Even though she was leading an active life, she found another passion- politics.  She was extremely active in both the Republican Party of Chesapeake and the Republican Party of Virginia and could always be counted on for being an attendee at events and a contributor to Republican candidates and elected officials.

All of her life she was on the move selflessly volunteering her time and effort to numerous organizations, too many to list here. She spent so much time working with the Tidewater Depression Glass Club, the National Hampton Alumni Association Inc., the National Association of Parliamentarians, and the Tidewater Funeral Director’s Association. In June 2004 she was appointed by the City of Chesapeake to the Tidewater Community College Board where she served until 2012 when the Governor appointed her to the State Board for Community Colleges, the governing body of the Community College System of the Commonwealth. This kept her busy meeting new staff members and students as she traveled to Colleges all over the state.

LaVonne leaves a legacy of commitment to life on many levels and a multitude of family members to carry it out. She leaves to mourn her cherished memories- her beloved son, Hollis D. Ellis of Chesapeake, her sister, Marion P Fleming (Leroy) of Hempstead, New York; a brother, Lt. Col. Glynn Parker (Sylvia) of Oxon Hill, Maryland; a brother, Franklin R. Parker (Janice) of New Lenox, Illinois; a Sister-in-law Henri Mae Parker of Ann Arbor, Michigan; a cousin, Lt. Col. Frank Harris (Vanessa) of Burke, Virginia; a cousin, Kenneth Marks, Esq. (Edith) of Reston, Virginia, ten nieces and nephews- Cheryl Fleming, Patricia Sapp, Sandra Fleming, Bridgett Bell, Diane Parker, Lisa Parker Esq., Franklin Parker, Esq., Jennifer Lee, Brian Parker, Walter Gee Parker, Jr.; six grand nieces and nephews- Dion Bell, Michael Bell, Demetri Bell, Malik Sapp, Myla Sapp, Frank Tai Parker, Dianna Parker, Frank Lloyd Harris and a host of cousins and friends. Her brother, Walter Gee Parker, MD predeceased her in death.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, February 17, 2018, 1 pm at First Baptist Church Bute Street, 418 E Bute Street, Norfolk, Virginia  23510.  Interment will be in Roosevelt Memorial Park, 1101 Campostella Road, Chesapeake, Virginia  23320. The family will receive friends on Friday, February 16, 2018 from 5 pm to 8 pm at Corprew Funeral Home, 1822 Portsmouth Blvd., Portsmouth, Virginia  23704.