Ella Joletha Alston of Sophia, NC was born February 13, 1953 to the late Ineal Gaines in Asheboro, NC. She passed away on December 31, 2017. Ella is survived by her loving husband, Jimmy Alston; her three sons, Octavius, Onterius (Stacy), and Fredrick (Heather) Gaines; her step children, Cynthia (Robert) Pemberton, Amanda (Aaron) McMillan, Randy Alston and Anne (Bill) Rost; 14 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren; her sister, Vanessa (Nate) Little; brother, Gary Gaines; aunts, Pency Yarborough, Trudah Hardin, and Katherine Lucas; uncle Charlie Mills; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00pm Tuesday, January 9, 2018 at the Russell Funeral Home Chapel.  The family visitation will be held from 1:30pm until 2:00pm on Tuesday at the Chapel.