C. B. "Lum" Ellis
| Columbus Benjamin "Lum" Ellis | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| |||
| Born | May 2, 1935 Little Rock, Arkansas | ||
| Died | May 24, 2024 (aged 89) Covington St. Tammany Parish Louisiana | ||
| Political Party | Democrat | ||
| Occupation | Businessman; former educator | ||
| Spouse | Donna Jeanne Logue Ellis (married c. 1976-2024, his death) Children | ||
| Religion | Lutheran | ||
Columbus Benjamin Ellis, known as C.B. "Lum" Ellis (May 2, 1935 – May 24, 2024), was a Louisiana educator.
Background
Ellis was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, to Columbus Wilson Ellis, Sr. (1895-1964), and the former Evelyn Ila Benson (1899-1975). His nickname "Lum" came from his grandfather, Dowlin Columbus "Lum" Ellis (1853-1933), who died two years before Ellis' birth.[1]He was reared in Baton Rouge and was a graduate of Istrouma High School, since a magnet school. He received his undergraduate degree from Louisiana College, now Louisiana Christian University, in Pineville. He attended seminary in New Orleans but left the ministry. He received an Ed.D. from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.[2]
Career and family
In 1970, he relocated to Natchitoches, Louisiana, where he as a sociology professor and assistant to the president of Northwestern State University until 1978, when, he relocated to the New Orleans area to become the vice president of student affairs at Delgado Community College, a post that he filled until his retirement in 1996.[2] A Democrat, he ran unsuccessfully in 1979 for Louisiana Superintendent of Education, having been defeated by fellow party member J. Kelly Nix, also a former educator, and future state superintendent, Thomas Clausen. The position is now appointed by the governor, rather than elected statewide.[3]
He was a member of Kiwanis International for sixty-two years, volunteered for Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, and was the president of the Chamber of Commerce in Natchitoches. He and his wife of forty-eight years, the former Donna Jeanne Logue, owned and operated Your Daily Bread bakery in the Garden District of New Orleans, a tour company in Natchitoches, and a recreational vehicle park with restaurant and evening entertainment in St. Joe in Searcy County, Arkansas.
Ellis died quietly at his home in Covington in St. Tammany Parish at the age of eighty-nine. In addition to Mrs. Ellis, he is survived by his daughters, Terri Ellis Cunningham (husband Joe) of Natchitoches; Cherie Martin McCann (husband Jim); Becki Lynn Martin; ten grandchildren and twenty-nine great-grandchildren. His memorial service was to be held on June 4, 2024, at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Kenner in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana,
References
- ↑ Columbus Wilson Ellis Sr. (1895-1964) - Find a Grave Memorial, accessed June 1, 2024.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Columbus Ellis Obituary (1935-2024) - Covington, LA - The Times-Picayune (nola.com), accessed June 1, 2024.
- ↑ Our Campaigns - LA Superintendent of Education - Initial Election Race - Oct 27, 1979, accessed June 1, 2024.
