On the perfectly bright, clear, and sunny Thursday morning of January 30, 2025, Ronald Gilliard Ellis, Jr. departed his mortal life and entered the everlasting embrace of his Lord and Savior. Known simply as "Ronnie" to his family and incredible number of friends, the world has lost a man who was a true gift to all. To know Ronnie was to love him. More importantly, to know Ronnie was to be loved by Ronnie. His caring, empathy, and generosity of spirit are unmatched and will serve as his enduring legacy. The number of lives touched by his philanthropic gestures is untold. Ronnie's hand at work is still seen from the tree-lined streets of Oakwood in Raleigh to the farms of Edgecombe County that he loved so dearly. His gifts benefit young scholars at East Carolina University and Barton College. Dancers and theatre dwellers for the next generation will bear the fruits of his labor. Those who are touched by the NC Symphony will have Ronnie to thank in part for their continued enrichment. He endowed gifts to Edgecombe Community College, the NC State University Club, Tarboro Community Outreach, and his beloved Spiritual Home of Conetoe Methodist Church. Ronnie served as a catalyst for saving and revitalizing the Historic Oakwood community in Raleigh. Many today see Oakwood as an essential gem in Raleigh that could never be removed or replaced. That mindset only exists because Ronnie Ellis and a handful of others stepped up to change the minds of Raleigh's leaders in 1972. When the city announced plans to bulldoze most of the homes in Oakwood for an expressway, Ronnie and three other neighbors banded together to form the Oakwood Candlelight Tour. Ronnie believed that bringing attention to the beauty and history of the homes could change public sentiment about the value of saving them. Not only has the neighborhood been saved and gone on to thrive, the Oakwood Candlelight Tour continues today in an annual tradition that is perpetually sold-out. Never known to shy away from a celebration or get-together, Ronnie's appointment book was legendary. A party in Raleigh or Tarboro was simply not an event until Ronnie Ellis showed up. Everyone immediately had a dance partner and every smile grew a bit more bright with his presence and charm. Ronnie was born in Raleigh, North Carolina on May 6, 1940 to the late Ronald Gilliard Ellis, Sr. and Kathleen King Ellis. He graduated from Needham Broughton High School and was a benefits manager for North Carolina State University where he served legions of university employees over his long and successful career. Ronnie is preceded in death by his sisters Anne Ellis Horne and Marilu Ellis White. Ronnie is joyously reunited with his loving partner of more than forty years, Earl Lynn Roberson, who passed in 2011. Ronnie is survived by his nephew Bentley Roberson (Wife Pam and sons Evan, Jake, and Allen), nieces Lynn Roberson (Husband Ches), Pam Stanley (Daughter Beth), Kathy Cox (Husband Fenton and daughter Stephanie), Karen Murphy (Husband Doug and children Harrison and Katherine), Leigh Weikert (Husband Dave and children Griffin and Isobel), and Tara White Cooke (Children Taylor and Tristan). Beloved Cousins include Delores Everette, Beth Clark, Linda Meeks, Travis Everette and Carla McKeithan. Much gratitude is owed to Ronnie's wonderful caregivers Phyllis Brown, Mae Melton, Annie Andrews, Brittany King, and Dot White. Visitation will be held On Friday, February 7, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. in Conetoe Methodist Church (Hicks St. Conetoe, NC) with services in the sanctuary at 11:00 a.m. Following Interment at the Conetoe Methodist Church Cemetery, all are invited to join Ronnie's family and friends for a Celebration of Life at Calvary Episcopal Church Clark Hall, 411 E. Church Street, Tarboro. Arrangements are handled by Carlisle Funeral Home of Tarboro. Floral gifts are welcomed and should be delivered to Carlisle at 701 Hospital Drive in Tarboro, NC 27886. Alternatively, donations may be made to Conetoe Methodist Church at PO Box 128 Conetoe, NC 27819.