Helen Ellison

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to harvest. June 18, 2013 at 4am--this was the time when our beloved Dr. Helen Yearby Ellison transitioned from her earthen vessel to her glorified body prepared by the Lord's Christ. Dr. Helen Yearby Ellison was born May 21, 1946 in Miami, Florida. She was the oldest of eight children born to the late Mr. Frank and Mrs. Jewel Yearby. She was fondly called "Mickey" by her family. While as a young girl, Helen relocated with her parents and siblings to West Park (Carver Ranches), Florida. She was educated in the Broward County Public School System and graduated from Atticks High school in1964. The importance of education had been instilled in Helen at an early age. Not attending college was unimaginable. She received her undergraduate degree from Central State University and her Masters of Science in Higher Education from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Illinois. Her career in Education spanned for more than forty years, having worked tirelessly in Student Affairs at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Southern Il...[more]

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ois University in Carbondale, Illinois, and Florida International University, of Miami, Florida, where she retired as Associate Vice President of Student Affairs in 2011. During her tenure at FIU, she received her Doctorate of Education in Higher Education in 2002 and was also Director of the FIU College of Education Master's Program in Higher Education Administration, a program of which she was instrumental in developing. Helen Ellison considered it a delight to serve in education. She was a mentor and friend to countless students, many of her colleagues, and others, who invariably described her as a kind-spirited leader, a quiet trail blazer. In the mid 90's, Dr. Deryl G. Hunt, mentor and spiritual leader to Dr. Helen Ellison, named an inclusive community building and mentoring model after her. "The Ellison Model," as it is called, fitly described Helen's character and her approach to relationship building--a disposition of caring, sharing, loving, trust, honor, and respect in service to others. Since that time, Dr. Helen Ellison and The Ellison Model has been the subject of five doctoral dissertations and a number of Master theses. Outside the University, Dr. Ellison also dedicated numerous hours of service providing counseling and generous monetary support to underserved children in Cordele, Georgia. Recently, she founded the Community Outreach Foundation, Inc., a local non-profit organization focused primarily on the eradication of poverty among youth and their families. As Chairperson, she is remembered for her faithful service and diligence to help ensure quality of life opportunities for those less fortunate. Helen was an active member of Church of Christ Apostolic nondenominational, where she served faithfully alongside her husband, Bishop Tom Ellison. Helen understood that the Church is without walls, and her desire was that all would come to know Jesus as the Christ, the eternal Spirit of God. Indeed, Helen's life in the earth is a true testimony of God's mercy, His love, His Wisdom, and His Power--a monument that will live on forever. Among those who will cherish her memory are her beloved and devoted husband: Tom, two loving daughters: Tamyra (Alfonso 'Pete') and Treva, two beautiful granddaughters: Jordan and Micah; a loving mother, Mrs. Jewel Yearby, and five devoted sisters: Stephanie (James), Barbara, Martha, Gwendolyn (Tinsley), Francenia (Charles), and Franchesca, and one brother, Frank, Jr., two sisters-in-law: Betty and Mary; and brother-in-law, Irving. Aunts: Mary McDowell and Minnie Bell Reeves, Uncles: James Smith and Charlie Walton. Godchildren: Stephon and Joshua. Special friends, Lenita Epinger and Ozzie Ritchey-Palmer, a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins too numerous to mention. -- love is contraband in hell. we are a conspiracy. - assata shakur