God dispatched two angels to Trellis Supportive Care, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC to carry home his child, Myrtice Virginia Ellis so lovingly known as “Virginia or Gin.” That beautiful body had taken all it could, as she fought for many years on the battlefield for the Lord.

Virginia was born on January 18, 1939, in Walton County Georgia, to the late Bounty Culbreath and Lillie Beatrice Culbreath. Virginia was the oldest of five children and looked upon many times as the other mother. She was preceded in death by her loving father and mother along with her youngest brother Dwight Culbreath. Virginia lived a full life of 87 blessed years before she was lovingly received into the arms of her Lord and Savior on Monday, August 31, 2026.

Virginia was educated in Walton County Georgia School System, graduating from David T. Howard High School in 1958. After high school she attended Georgia State University, later to go and work for Georgia State Insurance Co. until moving from Georgia to North Carolina.

She loved Greater Piney Grove Baptist Church in Georgia, where Rev. Frank Jones served as pastor. There, she sang in the Alfred Ensemble and was baptized under his leadership. After moving to Winston-Salem, NC, she joined St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. James Fulwood. For 40 years, she was a faithful and devoted member, singing with the Vocal Choir for 22 years, the Senior Choir for 20 years, and serving as Church Clerk for 15 years. Rev. Ellis was called to the ministry and preached her initial sermon on January 18, 1997. She was later ordained on July 20, 2017. Her walk with the Lord touched everyone she met. She was a beacon of light, and her ministry inspired each of her children to accept the Lord as their Savior: Rev. Dr. Darryl McConnell, Senior Pastor of Faith Baptist Church; Tonya M. McCray, First Lady of Little Zion Baptist Church; Harry McConnell, a strong pillar in his church; and Lawanda D. Hughes, our angel, who trusted the Lord and lovingly cared for our mother for many years until she departed this earth. Praise be to God, all of her children are God-fearing and serve our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I believe countless others were also touched by her love for Christ and her willingness to help others.

Rev. Ellis would later have to press to get to church on Sunday morning, as her health declined and failed her. She became very fond of her new Pastor Rev. Warren Napper and wanted to be there to support him in any way she could.

St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church is where she met her best friend, BFF, bestie of 40 years Mrs. Pearl Cook. If you saw one you saw the other, they traveled together and enjoyed one another’s company. Mrs. Pearl quickly became part of our family. We, the children Harry, Lawanda, Darryl and Tonya, all love Mrs. Pearl, and want to thank you for being such a wonderful friend to our mother. Mom loved to watch Westerns and all the old TV shows, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Matlock, Perry Mason, Sanford & Son, The Rockford Files,

The Jeffersons, Good Times, The Beverly Hillbillies, The Lucy Show, Bewitched, Andy Griffith, Gilligan’s Island, Mary Tyler Moore Show, and so many more, she loved playing solitaire on her computer for hours. Mom loved the sound of laughter and talking with her family and friends. But most of all she loved the Lord and singing praises to Him. Her favorite scripture was Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”

Virginia worked for Zayre’s for many years, Forsyth Hospital in medical records for several years and Hamrick’s Department Store for 14 years until she could no longer work.

When she was born, in January of 1939, the United States was in the tail end of the Great Depression era. Prices were low and the country was experiencing deflation. To put it in perspective one dollar $1.00 in 1939 had the same buying power as roughly Twenty-four dollars and two cents $24.02 today. The average income was $1368.00, and the minimum wage was twenty-five cents per hour. A house purchased was roughly $3,850.00 to $4,000.00 or if you rented a place, it was from Twenty-eight dollars $28.00 to Thirty dollars 30.00 dollars a month. Interestingly, a gallon of gasoline was ten cent to eighteen cents, a gallon of milk cost twenty-three cents, a loaf of bread nine cents, a dozen eggs twenty-one cents, coffee twenty-one cent a pound, unthought today of a movie ticket cost twenty-five cents, and one of your major purchases a new car was Seven Hundred Fifty dollars $750.00. Her birthstone Garnet was one of her favorite colors, a deep beautiful red color.

Life has truly changed and prices have ultimately changed, but “the Love of God is steadfast and never changes. He gives us new mercies every morning, great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 We will see you one day Mom, WE LOVE YOU!

Myrtice leaves a legacy of love (4) children Harry McConnell, Winston-Salem NC; Lawanda D. Hughes, Winston-Salem NC; Rev. Dr. Darryl McConnell (Josie) Graham NC; & Tonya McConnell McCray (Rev. James) Stafford VA. She is survived by three siblings Jimmy Lee Culbreath (Barbara) King, NC; Mary Alice Gamble, Walkertown, N.C; (continued next page)

Herbert Culbreath (Gail) Winston-Salem, N.C.; Seven (7) grandchildren; Four (4) great-grandchildren as well as a host of Nieces, Nephews, Cousins, Friends and Family.

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