We profoundly regret to announce that Margie Ellison, our beloved friend and co-worker, died unexpectedly on Friday. She died of a heart attack while undergoing a medical procedure related to recent surgery.
Margie served as NC WARN’s Organizing Director since 2006 after previously serving on our board. In the past few years the focus of her work was on advancing our green jobs agenda. She was a founder of both the Grassroots Energy Alliance and Durham’s Black, Brown, and Green Alliance.
Margie’s life was dedicated to the struggle for civil rights and for social, economic, and environmental justice. She had worked most of her adult life as a community organizer and social worker in Chatham County. Besides her work with NC WARN, she was very active in working with young people, the NAACP, the Democratic Party, the Chatham Coalition, the Chatham Political Reform Group, the Chatham County Fair, and recent efforts to bring the Chatham African American and Latino communities together. Her work with Chatham County included chairing the Human Relations Commission, and serving on the Economic Development Board and the Green Economy Task Force.
She received the Independent Weekly’s Citizen of the Year award in 2006. See the article here.
Margie was known for her warmth, friendliness, caring, passion for justice and her ready laugh.
The viewing will be on Tuesday, October 6, at the C. E. Willie Funeral Home at 699 East St, Pittsboro (off Rt. 64 east of the Pittsboro Circle) from 1 to 8pm.
The funeral will be 10 AM Wednesday, October 7th, at Alston Chapel Church, 1832 Alston Chapel Rd., Pittsboro.
Margie’s brief obituary and place to sign a memorial for her can be found here.
Cards and letters should be sent to The Ellison Family, 11538 Hwy 902, Bear Creek NC 27207
Our hearts go out to her husband, Joe, her family and her many close friends.
