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Thelma Zenida Ellis |
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The Foundation |
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After her passing in 2003, the family of the late Thelma Zenida Ellis, founded the Thelma Ellis Sixteen Foundation, Inc. offers financial scholarships for the first year to needy students pursuing a secondary level of education, and educational supplies such as computers, books, pens, pencils, and other items. The foundation is currently managed by Alice Brown, Sandra Thompson, daughters of Thelma Ellis, Denise Grubb and Everett Kildare, grand children of Thelma Ellis. |
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Thelma Zenida Ellis |
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(June 5, 1923 - February 11, 2003) Thelma Zenaida Ellis (Sixteen, Aunt Thelma) was born in Havana, Cuba on June 5, 1923. She was the last child of Martin Luther Ellis and Maggie Adina Ellis. She came to Jamaica at the age of five (5) years and lived in Berrydale, Clarendon. She was educated at the Porus Elementary School and did not have the opportunity to pursue secondary level education. In her former years, she was a fish vender after which she used to sell food to persons who worked at the then Duckenfield Sugar Estate for many years. Everyone could remember her dumpling and fish, ginger beer and bouyo. It was not unusual to see her in and around the area riding her bicycle which could be referred to as her car, because she would have something on her head, in the bar of the bicycle and on the back. Everyone admired her when she was riding with things on her head without even holding it. She could be thought of as a loving and caring person in the community. She helped many and always took from what she had to give them. She was a very jovial person and made friends easily with everyone. Her sound advice has helped many in the community and many express the fact that they are glad they listened to her. Thelma Ellis was a member of the Jamaica Excelsior Society for many years and she was the one who would always interface with persons at the headquarters in Kingston. Sixteen could be described as Thelma migrated to the United States of America to join her daughters and grandchildren in 1993. She was not doing well and was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease soon after. She returned to Jamaica in 1996 where she lived in Portmore and after a year she was placed in a Nursing Home in Kingston. In June 1997 she was then moved to Milvaja Health Complex in Port Morant, St. Thomas because we thought it would be closer to Duckenfield where she lived for many years and her friend would be able to visit her. She was doing well and thought that this place was home and the nurses there were her children and grandchildren. It was not unusual to go there and find her singing and dancing. She was an avid dancer and use to dance at the sound of music. Unfortunately, she died on Tuesday, February 11, 2003 about 11:45 am in her sleep. She is gone but surely not forgotten, and her legacy will live on in the Thelma Ellis Sixteen Foundation, Inc. |
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