Alison Westmoreland Ellington

1964 - 2025

Alison Westmoreland Ellington

November 5, 1964 - September 30, 2025

Alison Westmoreland Ellington passed away in the presence of loving family members on September 30, 2025, at Moses Cone Memorial Hospital in Greensboro, NC after a brief illness.

Ali (as family and legions of friends knew her) was born at Wesley Long Hospital in Greensboro on November 5, 1964, to the late Baxter Hobson Westmoreland and Irene Current Westmoreland.

Her entry into this world foreshadowed her life: In her father's telling, Ali, amidst all the layabouts in the neonatal unit, was alert, head up, incandescent blue eyes surveying the place, looking to get something going.

Ali immediately established herself as the ideally mischievous, lovable, energetic, beautiful little sister to five siblings. A blonde whirlwind who cartwheeled around the house, leaving displaced pillows and couch cushions in her wake, Ali was a natural storyteller and comedienne who had enough friends to fill a fleet of school buses.

At Greensboro Page High School she took joy in being a cheerleader and participating in many school and social activities, including cheering the boys' basketball team to a state championship her senior year, 1983. That same year Ali made her debut at the Greensboro Symphony Presentation Ball.

Ali graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1987 with a major in psychology and was a member of the Chi Omega Sorority.

After graduation Ali had a successful sales career at Labcorp and Alamance Regional Medical Center. On August 29, 1991, while at Labcorp, she took a chance on a blind date plotted by a work colleague and the sister of the mystery man. He turned out to be Bobby Ellington, who became the love of her life.

Ali and Bobby were married on November 13, 1993, at First Presbyterian Church in Greensboro. Ali left her sales career in favor of volunteer work and was an exercise instructor (mostly at Sportime in Greensboro) for thirty years. She especially enjoyed her Disco Friday class, where the lights were dimmed and the disco ball rotated and flashed to 1970s hits! Many lifelong friendships were formed in those classes. She was a member of the Board of Directors of The Ricky Proehl P.O.W.E.R. of Play Foundation.

Ali's sense of humor and her ability to transport fun anywhere were her most endearing qualities. She knew all about being a beloved child and paid it forward to her many nieces and nephews. Christmas Eve dinners at Ali's home were grand affairs of dozens of family members, including many little ones whom she whipped into a frenzy over Santa's impending visit. Sundays before Halloween she hosted "Aliween," a carnival she constructed at her home for those same lucky kids. That event included numerous games, races, and contests, and lots of food and "Ali antics". She had an uncanny ability to quote classic movie lines to maximum comic effect and had everybody in stitches with funny stories at Bobby's client outings. At any time of year, a spontaneous gathering in the Ellingtons' music room (with Ali holding court and Bobby doing his piano magic) might break out. The memory of those evenings will never fade for those lucky enough to have been there.

As exuberantly as Ali lived this life, her faith in an even greater one to come grew as the years passed. She was convinced that Christianity embodied the basic truths of life and death. She hosted and led a Bible study group in her home for eighteen years and passed away firm in the conviction that she would enjoy eternal communion with her Creator and departed family members. She was committed to a lifelong goal of leading people to Jesus Christ. Her passing leaves a huge void in this world but no doubt fills the next with much excitement and color and love.

In addition to her husband Robert N. (Bobby) Ellington, Jr., she is survived by three sisters, Buzzy Pritchard (Woody) and Jan Stout (Terry) of Greensboro, and Lori Kelly (Nelson) of Clemmons, NC; a brother, Bobby Westmoreland (Joan) of Oxford, Mississippi; sixteen nieces and nephews; and twenty-two great-nieces and great-nephews.

The family wishes to express its deepest appreciation to the dedicated nurses and doctors of Moses Cone Memorial Hospital for their wonderful care of Ali.

There will be a private burial service for the immediate family on Thursday, October 9. Ali's Celebration of Life for the public will follow on October 9, 1:00 p.m., at Greensboro Country Club (Farm Course), 5121 Hedrick Drive, Greensboro, NC 27410. Business casual attire will be appropriate. Hors d'oeuvres will be provided.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to honor Ali's memory may send memorial donations to Orphan's Promise, orphanspromise.org or Samaritan's Purse, samaritanspurse.org

Hanes Lineberry North Elm Chapel is assisting the Ellington family. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at haneslineberryfhnorthelm.com