BIOGRAPHY   |   PHOTOS   |   FAMILY   |   ARTICLES   |   GUESTBOOK   |   HOME   |   ABOUT

Goldsboro News-Argus

Tuesday February 4, 1964

Ellis's Feted By Children

By Moses Rountree

     I received an invitation from the sons and daughters of Mr. and Mrs. John Brantley Ellis "requesting the pleasure of your company" at a reception they gave Sunday in honor of the 40th wedding anniversary of their parents.

     The pleasure was all mine.  I once interviewed Mrs. Ellis about the trials and joys of raising 13 children.  Now I would have a chance to get the children's side of the story.

     It wasn't an easy assignment.  I used to carry the Ellis' mail, but never could keep straight the names of the boys, who

number 11.  I remembered, of course, the two girls:  Carolyn, now Mrs. Bobby Brock of Goldsboro, and Dot, who is not Mrs. Clell Lee of Raleigh.

     Dot informed me her real name is Dorothy.  My recollection was she had been named Dot because she was so tiny at birth -- or so I thought her mother told me.  Anyway, everyone called her Dot, or Dotty.  The Ellis's had to use short names -- there were so many of the children.

     Only five of the boys were present:  Jimmy, who is with the public relations department of the American Textile Manufacturers Institute Inc., in Charlotte;  Larry and Steve of Goldsboro; Richard (Bud) of Pikeville; and Edward (Skinny) of Havelock.

     Absent were John and Tommy, of the

U.S. Navy;  Bobby of Norfolk;  Billy, of the U.S. Coast Guard at Houston, Texas;  Charles, who is with the government Geodetic Survey in Nevada; and Jerry, who attends the University of Alabama and plays professional baseball in summer.  He belongs to the Houston Colts chain and last year played for Moultrie, Ga.

     Skinny played semi-pro baseball at Morehead City and New Bern.  Most of the boys played baseball and football at Goldsboro High School (Billy was All-State Guard); and three of them -- Billy, Bud, and Jerry -- played baseball, football and basketball.

     Carolyn, who was the ninth child, said she "broke up" the expectations of a family baseball team, but was allowed to play "utility."

     Dotty, who was child number 12, said she was "just a pigtail in dungarees."  She remembered giving Larry a "bloody nose" when they were sparring with boxing gloves.

     "I got 50 cents for it, but I don't remember who from," Dotty said.

     The boys didn't do much fighting among themselves but "looked out for each other: on the outside, Bud said.  I think it was Bud -- they had to keep telling me their names.

    Mrs. E. A. Page, who occupied an apartment overlooking the Ellis back yard, spoke up to say that she never saw any fighting going on. "They surely were well behaved."

     Most of the disciplining was done by Mrs. Ellis.  "Papa couldn't hear too well," explained one of the boys.  "When he did

take a hand, it was usually to threaten us."   Mrs. Ellis said all she had to do to break

up an argument was "just start towards the cabinet where I kept my paddle."

     "That's all right, Mama," the offender would say, ceasing to give offense.

    All of the boys carried papers -- the News-Argus and News and Observer -- and made enough money to spend and buy most of their clothing.  When they were small they were given five cents a week to rake the yard, the yard being divided into sections.  Bud said he spent his nickel on "B-Bats."

     "This is the chaos we went through all the time," said Mrs. Ellis, taking note of her offspring's chattering.  "The only time the house got quiet was when everybody went  to bed.  I sometimes wish I had made a tape recording of what went on for one day."     Even the nocturnal quiet was broken on

occasion by Billy, who talked in his sleep.  Once when he wouldn't give Bobby and Charles some of his candy, they made him talk in his sleep and tell them where it was hidden.

     Mrs. Ellis, the former Virginia Earp, was married on January 31, 1934.  The marriage took place at the parsonage of Elm Street Methodist Church with Rev C.P. Jerome officiating.  Present at the anniversary reception were Mrs. James Shumate, the former Esther Norris, who was bridesmaid at the wedding and J.R. Barnes, the best man.  He and Ellis grew up together at Fremont.

     The Ellis' have 27 grandchildren, of whom 20 are boys.  The number includes Marshall and Clyde, twin sons of Mr. and Mrs. James B. (Jimmy) Ellis.  ■

◄PREVIOUS ARTICLE            ARTICLES MENU           NEXT ARTICLE ►