Richard Ellis

Richard Adawole Ellis, 70 of Charlotte, passed away on Thursday September 26, 2019 at his residence.     He was born on July 15, 1949, unto the union of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Jonathan Ellis, Sr., Kingsville, Number 7, Montserrado County, Republic of Liberia. He was the eighth of twelve children blessed of this union. In 1955, Richard was enrolled at the Bravid Washington Harris School (aka B W Harris Episcopal School) and graduated in 1968. After high school, while figuring out his next phase in life, he joined a band, ”The First Dimensions," with Tecumseh Roberts, they entertained the young generation for a brief moment in Liberia's history. After his short fame on the stages of Gabriel Cinema and E. J. Roye's auditorium, Richard moved to Yekepa, Nimba County. After a brief period, Richard, his older sister, the late Mary Abioseh Ellis Carper and her family moved to the United States.

In the early, 1970s Richard lived in New York, where he met and married Miss Daphine Boden. This union was blessed with two daughters, Salome Alicia and Amara Courtney. He later moved to California, where he attended Los Angeles City College and Riverside City College. In 1980, Richard was blessed with his third child Richard A. Ellis, Jr. After, he enlisted in the US Air Force as a Medical Service Corpsman and served four years. His desire to help others would also lead him into the US Navy, where he again worked as a Hospital Corpsman for another four years. During his years in the military, he served in the Vietnam War and then returned to New York, where he stayed until he moved to Charlotte, NC in 2002.

He made Charlotte his permanent home among family and friends and made a name for himself as an iconic and talented artist. He expressed his love for his homeland, Liberia. His artwork on the easel and murals have been displayed at many art shows in Charlotte, Washington, DC, New York, and are owned by family and friends. His other talents included cooking, reading & reciting poems written by Edger Allen Poe his favorite poet and listening to music. He loved preparing African dishes, especially the main dishes from the Vai tribe of Liberia.. .....(name some). He enjoyed a variety of musical genres including gospel, oldies from the '70s, and classical.

Richard was a well-rounded man and a scholar . He loved sports, politics and enjoyed entertaining family and friends, including his former classmates from B. W. Harris High School who reside in the United States as well.

Sleep on Richard Adawole Ellis, sleep. You have flown away with the angels to be at rest with your ancestors. We will miss you, but we believe we will meet again on that resurrection morning. Your passing has left a broken limb on our family tree. May your soul and the souls of your ancestors and departed loved ones rest in eternal peace. Farewell Richard Adawole, cuzzos. BOBFAN!