John Rayford Ellison, 77, of Lexington, passed away on Sunday, January 24, 2016 at his residence. Visitation will be held at Southern Funeral Home on Thursday, January 28 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., with services immediately following. Rev. Lyn Nations and Rev. David Farley will officiate. Interment will be held at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Lexington.
Pallbearers are Richard Chisolm, Eddie Matthews, Chad Allen, Robert Ellison, Bobby Revisore, Pablo Hernandez Schmidt-Tophoff, Lake Lindsey and Derek Walker. Honorary pallbearers are Phillip Chisolm, Nick Nichols, Doug Lawson, Wayne Ray, George Ellison, Nathan Wright, Jonathan Wright, Carter Wright, Chuck Higdon and Jeff Higdon.
John is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Bonnie Ables Ellison of Lexington; his children, Mike Ellison (Julie) and Gaye Ellison Joiner; his six grandchildren, Randi Hernandez Schmidt-Tophoff (Pablo), Taylor Ellison, Nicole Lindsey (Lake), Robert Ellison (Lauren), Robert “Bobby” Revisore and Elizabeth Walker (Derek); his three great-grandchildren, Kaylee Bethany, Iva Beth Lindsey and Baby Girl Hernandez Schmidt-Tophoff; and Richard, Bridgett, Connor, Morgan and Matthew Chisolm. John was preceded in death by his daughters, Glenda Ellison Gupton and Dawn Ellison Allen; and his parents Mr. and Mrs. Lute S. Ellison. John’s greatest legacy is his family and his huge presence will be sorely missed by each of them.
John was born on July 10, 1938 in Lexington, the only child of Lute S. and Mattie Lee Walton Ellison. John was a 1956 graduate of Lexington High School and a 1960 graduate of Mississippi State University. John and Bonnie were married on January 27, 1956 in Canton, Mississippi. After a 19-year career with the United States Department of Agriculture Cotton Division that took the Ellison family to Austin, Houston and Dallas, Texas, John returned to Lexington in 1970, where he would reside for the rest of his life. Following in the steps of his father Lute S. Ellison, John owned and operated Lexington Sales Company, famous for its weekly Wednesday livestock auctions, for several decades before retiring to spend time with his family in 1998. Avidly supporting each of his four children, four of his grandchildren and one of his great-grandchildren at Central Holmes Academy in Lexington, many will remember John’s constant presence in the stands of CHA’s sporting events. John particularly enjoyed his time coaching the softball teams of his youngest daughter Dawn Ellison Allen and remembered fondly those who played alongside her. John was an active member of Oregon Memorial Church in Lexington, and prior to that, a long-time member of First United Methodist Church in Lexington.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of Lexington Manor and Sta-Home Health & Hospice. Memorials may be sent to Oregon Memorial Church, Post Office Box 63, Lexington, MS 39095; the Dawn Ellison Allen Memorial Pharmacy Scholarship Endowment, 406 University Avenue, Oxford, MS 38655; or a charity of your choice.