James Ellington

Brigadier General (Ret.) James Robert Ellington went to be with his Lord on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, at Merit Health Hospital in Brandon. Visitation will be held on Saturday, May 28, 2022 from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. at Ott & Lee Funeral Home in Brandon. Funeral Services are at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 28, 2022 at the funeral home with interment to follow at Crestview Memorial Gardens.

Born on October 12, 1926, to the late Morris Porter Ellington, Sr. and Letha Hyde Ellington, Mr. Ellington grew up in Ackerman, MS, and graduated from Ackerman High School. In 1945, he was drafted into the U.S. Army Infantry and was assigned to the invasion force for Nagasaki, Japan.  While he was on his way there, the U.S. dropped the second atomic bomb, and the invasion force became an occupation force. He and his unit evaded the remaining enemy snipers, destroyed Japanese planes and weapon reserves, cleared roads of debris, and supplied surviving Japanese citizens with food and clothing. In 1948, he served as an escort for the reinterment of soldiers who had died in World War II. He attended Delta State Teacher’s College on the G.I. Bill and graduated in 1951. After being called back to active duty for the Korean War, he was assigned to the Mississippi Military District where he met the love of his life, the late Ethel Estelle Andrews. They married in Jackson in 1953 and reared three daughters. Mr. Ellington continued his career in the Mississippi Army National Guard, later becoming the Commander of the 114th Military Police Company and then of the 112th Military Police Battalion. He was subsequently the Training Site Commander of Camp Shelby and retired as the Chief of Staff of the Mississippi Army National Guard.

Most of all, Mr. Ellington was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. A long-time member of Epworth United Methodist Church and later of Brandon First United Methodist Church, he taught adult Sunday School for many years and served on many church committees. He was also a member of Jackson Civitan and then Brandon Civitan.

Mr. Ellington is survived by two brothers, Jimmy Ellington of Oakland and Billy Ellington of Ackerman; one sister, Marjeanette Ellington Williams of Ackerman; and three daughters and their husbands, Pam and Mark Magee of Florence, Jane and Dennis Caranna of Brandon, and Patty and Steve Lee of Brandon. His grandchildren are Holly and Chad Wells of Brandon, Robert and Allison Magee of Brandon, Amy Elizabeth Lee of Brandon, and Amber and Eric Munden of Raymond. His great-grandchildren are Avery, Mallory, and Will Magee of Brandon and Anna Noel and Ada Munden of Raymond. Many nieces and nephews also cherish his memory.

Mr. Ellington’s family wishes to express grateful appreciation to the employees of Assisting Angels Home Care and requests that memorials be made to Brandon First United Methodist Church or to the Salvation Army.