Edward Ellis

Family-Placed Death Notice

Edward Prioleau Ellis of Atlanta died on Saturday, November 5, 2005. He is survived by Harriet Witham Ellis, his wife of fifty one years, as well as their daughter Harriet Calhoun Ellis Swann and her husband, F. Bradford Swann, their son Edward Prioleau Ellis, Jr. and his wife Gretchen, and their son Andrew Hamilton Ellis and his wife Hilary. Mr. Ellis is also survived by four grandsons, F. Bradford Swann, Jr., Frampton Stuart Swann, Edward Prioleau Ellis, III, and Oliver Andrew Hamilton Ellis, and three granddaughters, Emma Calhoun Ellis, Antonia Jayne Ellis and Phoebe Anne Phinizy Ellis. In addition he is survived by his brother, Frampton Erroll Ellis, his sister, Eloise Simons Ellis and many nephews and nieces. Mr. Ellis' brother, Dr. John Oliver Ellis predeceased him. He was born May 31, 1929 on Peachtree Circle, attended Spring Street School and in 1947, as student body president, was the last student ever to graduate from Boys High. Mr. Ellis earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of Georgia in 1951, where he graduated Cum Laude and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. While in Athens, he was also a member of the Chi Phi fraternity. He then attended law school at Harvard University, but with the outbreak of the Korean War, his graduation was delayed until 1956. During that time, he served as a First Lieutenant in the United States Army Tank Corps and Military Intelligence in Alaska, being honorably discharged before returning to complete his law degree. Following graduation from Harvard Law School, Mr. Ellis followed his grandfather Judge William D. Ellis and father Frampton Erroll Ellis in becoming the third generation of his family to practice law in Atlanta. For many years he was a partner in the law firm of Alston, Miller, and Gaines, until entering private practice with Arnold C. Moore, and nephews Alan C. Simons and Prentice Eager. In addition to his family and profession, Mr. Ellis enjoyed membership in the Piedmont Driving Club, the Capital City Club, the Inquiry Club and Mariners Mutual. He was also a lifetime member of First Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Lovett School, 4075 Paces Ferry Rd., Atlanta, Georgia, 30327, or Woodberry Forest School, Woodberry Forest Station, Box 402, Woodberry, Virginia, 22989, or your favorite charity. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, November 9th, 2005 at 12:00 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 1328 Peachtree Street, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia, 30309. Prior to the service, beginning at 11 a.m. , there will be a brief reception to meet with the family. Arrangements by H.M. Patterson & Son, Spring Hill Chapel, 1020 Spring Street, Atlanta 30309 (404) 876-1022.