A Trailblazer's Tale
Rodney N. Ellis, Sr. was born July 19, 1967 to Elizabeth Rivers and the late John William Ellis in Mocksville, NC. Rodney was educated in the public schools of Mocksville and Cleveland, Ohio. A committed Christian, Rodney ensured that his family served the Lord. He was a great supporter of Great Commission Community Church as he had the heartbeat of the founder, the late Philemon Anthony Samuels. He and his family became members of Goodwill Baptist Church in Winston-Salem and while in Raleigh, worshipped at Wake Chapel Church.

Compelled by his personal experience and life calling, Rodney majored in education at Winston-Salem State University. During his senior year, Rodney served as a student teacher at Lift Academy, where the late Senator Earline Parmon served as the administrator. Looking back, Rodney credited this experience as an important milestone in his path to becoming an excellent teacher.

Respect
"It helped me to develop a good discipline strategy. I was able to manage a classroom, even then, but it was more because of the respect that the kids had for me and for the work that I do, and the understanding they had that I was there to help them, and that's what I wanted to do. And they respected that."
Pursuing his calling to teach, Rodney excelled in his educational coursework and graduated cum laude in 1999. Winston Salem State University awarded Rodney the Alumni Achiever commendation in 2010.

The Call
"I said one day that I was going to be a teacher, and if I'm ever going to do it, its going to be now; because these kids in this city need someone to look up to, someone who's going to foster positive beliefs and be a positive influence and role model for them."

Committed to making a difference for young people in East Winston Salem, Rodney began his career in at Atkins Middle School, which later became Winston Salem Preparatory Academy. His passion for teaching young people stood out among his peers, and he was voted Atkins Middle School Teacher twice during his first three years of teaching.

Rodney was a champion for students and educators across this city, state, and country. A dedicated and talented educator, Rodney advocated for teachers and students throughout his career. In college, he served as President of the College and University student division of the North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE). Elected to serve as the Atkins School's representative to the Forsyth County Association of Educators, Rodney later became president of the organization.

Rodney's dedication, undeniable love and appreciation for education propelled him from the local level to eight years of service and leadership at the North Carolina Association of Educators in Raleigh, NC. Rodney faithfully served two terms as Vice-President and two terms of President of NCAE.

The Mission
"The job for me is to make sure that educators in this state are respected, appreciated, and have an opportunity to do the work that they want to do in the classroom, to do the things in the classroom that they know will be effective at increasing and improving student achievement based on their experiences in the classroom."

While in office, he served on many state and national committees involving public education. Rodney met with numerous state and national leaders, including President Obama and former NC Governors, to discuss public education policies. In recognition of his exemplary service, Rodney received awards for Outstanding and Distinguished Service from the NCAE and the FCAE. After completing the maximum years of leadership service with NCAE, Rodney returned to his first love, teaching middle school language arts to students in East Winston Salem.

During his collegiate years, Rodney became a stalwart member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. Throughout his life, Rodney embodied the fraternity's ideal of "culture for service and service for humanity". In recognition of his dedication and service to the community, the fraternity bestowed numerous awards upon Brother Ellis, including the Delta Sigma Chapter President's Officer Appreciation Award, Spirit of Sigma Award, the Centennial Legacy Award, and the "Man of the Year" award in 2002.

Rodney was an avid sportsman. He loved golf, basketball, and "stepping" – and he shared this passion for sports with young men in the community. Rodney coached his son, Rodney B.'s AAU "Swish City Magic" Team to a championship. Later, he became area coordinator with Team Wall Basketball Association in Raleigh NC. Even in sports, Rodney ensured that practices included an educational component for his team members. The local YMCA honored Rodney with the Black Achievers Award in 2002.

Above all, Rodney was a dedicated servant of God, loving husband, and adoring father. At every turn, he put family first, and taught them by word and deed that education was a priority. Together, Rodney and Lisa dedicated their lives to each other, to their children, and to Rodney's work on behalf of teachers and students. Rodney supported the development of young people and believed in the promise of public school, not only for his children, but also for every child in North Carolina and our nation. He was so committed to the principle of quality public education for teachers and students that he freely sacrificed his freedom and volunteered to protest and be arrested in order to call attention to the plight of public schools.

Rodney was preceded in death by his father John William Ellis, aunts Ruby Sprinkle, Pauline Rivers and uncle Collet Ellis Sr.

He leaves to continue his legacy his loving wife Lisa Chisolm-Ellis; children, Rodney Jr., Gabrielle, April, Alis, and Rodney B.; his mother Elizabeth Rivers; sisters Tezra (Edward) Woody and Marchetta Ellis; brothers Shawn (Amanda) Ellis and Bryant Rivers; mother in-law, Ella Chisolm; sisters in-law, Laverne Taylor, Theda (Jerry) Okona; aunts Jimmie Nell Mayfield, Bernice Rousseau, Vivian Wright, Irma Rivers, and Tressie Ellis; uncles, Russell Rivers; a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins; as well as his NCAE, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., Swish City Magic, Team Wall, and church families.

The life and legacy of Rodney Noel Ellis Sr. is one of immense service. His unwavering commitment to students and educators will be forever be imprinted in the DNA of public education. Rodney's impact and influence will continue to go places that his feet never had the opportunity to touch. He was a man of many hats that left an irreplaceable mark on this earth.

Restoring the Joy
"There is a goal for this organization, an objective, and that is to make sure that education for educators is the best experience it can possibly be; and in so doing, we benefit those children that we teach…. It became my objective to restore the joy of this profession for both educators and students."

Funeral services will be held at 1:00pm Saturday, September 17, 2016 at St. Peter's Church and World Outreach Center with Rev. Gloria Samuels, officiating. The family visitation will be held from 6:00pm until 8:00pm on Friday evening September 16, 2016 at Great Commission Community Church, 3733 Ogburn Avenue.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Rodney Ellis Memorial Fund at PNC Bank or by mail to Rodney Ellis Memorial Fund, c/o 3333 Robinhood Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27106