Sandra Russ Ellenor

Sandra Ann Russ Ellenor, 80 of 888 Hwy 37 North, Gates, NC. passed away Friday, March 21, 2025, in her home where she was being cared for by family.

Mrs. Ellenor was born in Portsmouth, VA on June 15, 1944, and was the daughter of the late William Hayes Russ, Sr. and Bessie Ellen Lassiter Russ.

Mrs. Ellenor attended College of the Albemarle, Elizabeth City State and East Carolina University where she received her Master’s Degree in Library Science and Administration and a Minor in Elementary Education. A longtime educator, she retired as a Media Specialist from Gates County High School following 34 years of teaching, and later taught at Kings Fork High School in Suffolk, VA for 7 years. During her time at Gates County High School, and knowing her love of history, she was approached by former Superintendent, Dr. Cleveland Hawkins to research the history of superintendents of Gates County Schools. Along with her library aides, they completed the research and now their pictures hang in the board room at the Gates County Schools board building in Gatesville. Mrs. Ellenor was instrumental in starting a summer reading program at Gates County High for elementary students to encourage them to read during the summer months. In 2004, she won the NCBA Journal Magna Award with “Miss Sandra’s Super Story Time” where 80 students from across the country participated. She, along with board members and the superintendent, traveled to Orlando, FL to accept the award. The program ran for five years with the help of grants awarded from International Paper in which they helped with buying books and supplies. While at GCHS she planned the Academic Receptions to honor all students who excelled with A and B averages and wrote the school news (Baron Beat) in the Gates County Index each week. An avid memorabilia collector of GCHS, it was stored in a special showcase within the media center. It was very important to her to preserve those items for future generations.

A faithful member of Kittrell’s United Methodist Church in Gates, she enjoyed teaching its primary class for 22 years and had served as Secretary of the Administrative Board for 13 years. Other memberships enjoyed included the Gates County Historical Society, Gates Ruritan Club, the Beta Upsilon Chapter, the International Flow Blue Society, and had volunteered at Studio 32 in Sunbury (a place very dear to her heart). Prior to their closure, she enjoyed membership in both the Gatesville Woman’s Club and Ladies Investment Club. She had served as a representative of Gates County on the board of The Museum of the Albemarle in which she helped select a location for the museum and with the raising of donations for its construction. For a short time, she also had served on the board of The Friends of the Library at Chowan College. Among her many hobbies, she loved reading, gardening, decorating, collecting and selling antiques, and making and selling grapevine balls. She was a very giving person to her family and to anyone who needed help.

Surviving is her husband of 62 years, Charlie Frank Ellenor, Jr; her two children, Delores Ann Ellenor Gowarty (Dean Hand) and Charlie Frank Ellenor III (Heidi Turner); four grandchildren, Morgan Gowarty Montague (Dexter Montague), Savannah Monet Gowarty, Brianne Emerson Ellenor, and Avery Russ Ellenor; a great-granddaughter, Margot Frances Montague; grand dogs, Ace and Gates; a brother, William Hayes “Bill” Russ, Jr. (Jackie Lilley Russ); a sister, Delores Robens (Raymond Burner); her nephew, William Hayes Russ, III; and her many cousins, classmates, and friends, whom she loved and enjoyed all the outings they shared together.

A memorial service will be held Friday, April 4th, at 2:00 p.m. at Kittrell’s United Methodist Church in Gates and will be conducted by her pastor, The Rev. Dr. Johnnie Swann and guest, Senior Pastor Terry Williams from Camp United Methodist Church. Friends may join the family in the social hall of the church immediately following the service. A private inurnment will be held at the Damascus Christian Church Cemetery in Sunbury.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to either Kittrell’s Methodist Church, c/o Faye Freeman, P.O. Box 51, Gates, NC 27937 or the Gates County Historical Society, c/o Barbara Eure Crawford, P.O. Box 134, Gatesville, NC 27938.

Miller & Van Essendelft Funeral Home, 304 Main Street, Gatesville, is assisting the family with arrangements and online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.