Desdie Ellis

Desdie Marie Woodard Townsend Ellis went to be with the Lord on Monday, February 20, 2012 surrounded by her family. Born June 18, 1926 in Hopewell, she was the daughter of the late Sarah McCormick Woodard Olsen of Petersburg and Rufus Woodard of Maryland. She was predeceased by a sister, Sara Woodard Fable of Petersburg; and two brothers, Walter Percy Woodard of Petersburg, and John Richard Woodard of Hopewell. Mrs. Ellis was an active member of Gill Grove Baptist Church in Chesterfield and was retired from Allied Chemical after 31 years. She lived in the Petersburg area for 85 years. She was a proud member of the Halifax Street "Dog Hill Gang," and attended their reunions until just a few years ago. She loved her "breakfast buddies" and looked forward to their meeting every Saturday morning. She was a very loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend. She is survived by her three children, Charles E. Townsend (Betty Jo), Barbara Townsend Stanfield Harrison both of Colonial Heights, and Toni Townsend Hahn (John) of Chesterfield; four grandchildren, Stephen A. Stanfield (Carol), Tina Hahn Kissner (David), Sheri Stanfield Lewis (Jay), and Kimberly Hahn Reynolds (Larry); nine great-grandchildren, Jessa Ackerman, Luke, Jillian and Jared Kissner; Dean, Elizabeth, Isabella, Savannah, and Dylan Reynolds; two sisters, Lavina "Lou" Woodard Frantz of Berwick, Pennsylvania, and Dorothy "Dot" Woodard Perdue Elko (George) of Chesterfield; numerous nieces and nephews; and several very special friends. A funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, February 24, 2012 in Gill Grove Baptist Church, 10726 River Road, Chesterfield, Virginia 23838 with Pastor John Brothers officiating, interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, at the Colonial Heights Chapel of the E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes & Crematory, 2033 Boulevard. Flowers welcome or donations may be made to Gill Grove Baptist Church.