Gerald W. Ellis

Gerald Walter Ellis was born on May 16, 1951, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Samuel Walter and Verdelle S. Ellis. The eldest of his parents' four children, he embraced all that came with being the firstborn.

As a youngster, Gerald was an active member of The Historic Charles Street AME Church in Roxbury, where he sang in the Junior Choir and earned several badges as a member of the Boy Scouts. Gerald graduated from English High School and briefly attended Boston College before following his passion for cooking and enrolling in culinary school. Prior to that, he worked as an inspector at Raytheon. After completing culinary school, Gerald worked in restaurants in the Greater Boston area and later in Panama City, Florida, where he had relocated to be a support to his mother and grandmother.

After settling into life in Florida, Gerald joined Mount Zion AME Church in Panama City, where he served his church and community faithfully until Hurricane Michael completely destroyed the building. He joined the United States Postal Service and eventually worked his way up to the position of Senior Expeditor. He genuinely enjoyed his work and had many entertaining stories to share about his experiences on the job.

Gerald would start conversations with anyone. He treated voting and political discussion as a personal responsibility, especially encouraging young people to register and take part in the electoral process. He was also a proud and dedicated member of the Masonic Order, having earned his Royal Arch and Knights Templar degrees before becoming a Noble of the Mystic Shrine and earning the 32nd degree.

Gerald loved a good gathering and was always ready to entertain. His greatest joy was firing up the grill and preparing a meal for the family. However, after years of working nights, he kept his own schedule. So, the meal might not be ready until 10 p.m. or later, but it was always worth the wait. He deeply loved his family and made a point of staying in touch, genuinely concerned about everyone's well-being and always willing to help. He never let a birthday or special occasion pass without acknowledgment - whether with a card, a dinner out, or at the very least, a phone call.

Gerald will be deeply missed, especially for his conversation, his love of cooking, and his passion for politics. He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel Walter Ellis and Verdelle S. Ellis. He leaves to mourn his passing, his siblings, Carlton Ellis, Charlene Greene (Leslie Joseph-Greene), and Byron Ellis; his niece, Lauren Bowens (Lamont); and his nephew, L. Joseph Greene (Veronica); his great-nephews Jaelen Greene, Sebastian Greene, Hendrix Greene, Aiden Bowens, Ermias Greene, and Isaiah Greene; and a host of cousins and friends.