Obituary

Arlene Arnell Ellis, a loving mother, sister, grandmother, and aunt, passed away on December 21, 2022, surrounded by her family at her home in Richmond, Virginia. Born Arline Nell Vaughn on June 15, 1949, in Staunton, Virginia, she was known most of her life as Arlene Arnell. She was the 10th of 11 children born to Wallace William Vaughn and Elizabeth Louise Vaughn. She grew up in Glen Wilton, Virginia raised by her father and her stepmother Ada Bell (Brown)Vaughn, who joined the family after the death of her mother Elizabeth.

Arlene attended Central Academy in Fincastle and James River High School in Buchanan before attending Virginia State University in Petersburg. It was there that she met Steven Ellis, with whom she married and had three daughters. Although their marriage ended in divorce, Arlene and Steve remained committed co-parents and friends.

Arlene spent a significant portion of her life in Tacoma, Washington, where she worked for Fort Steilacoom Community College as the Veteran Affairs Financial Administrator.  She later taught the Cortez-Peters Keyboarding Class at the Tacoma Urban League Skills Training Center. It was during this time that she was able to express and implement her passion for writing through teaching and counseling adults who were looking to get back on track in life. Arlene was dedicated to helping these individuals gain marketable skills and become self-sufficient. She was committed to helping them achieve their goals and make positive changes in their lives.

In 2001, she moved from Washington state to Maryland, and shared a home with her sister Shirley (Vaughn) Brown until Shirley’s passing in 2015. Arlene then moved in with her daughter Tamika and her family in Owings Mills, Maryland, where she lived until relocating to Richmond, Virginia in 2021 to live with her daughters Tawnya and Tamala and their families.

Throughout her life, Arlene was known for her sharp wit, her love of TV, painting, and her talent for creative writing. She also enjoyed a good game of Bid Whist, especially when partnered with her sister Garnett. Above all, Arlene was deeply devoted to her family and cherished her close relationships with her sisters, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, as well as her nieces and nephews. She touched the lives of many with her kindness, strength, and resilience, and will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Arlene is survived by her five sisters, Nancy Tomlin, Joyce Keener (James), Carolyn Young (Robert), Dale Howard (Randy), Garnett Newcombe (Eric), three children, Tawnya Moreno (Mario), Tamika Ellis Gourdin (John), and Tamala Ellis (fiancé Dwayne), four bonus children Dominic Robinson, Denise Duckett, Amber Davis & Leilani Batiste, her nine grandchildren, Takerra, Steven (Nicole), Emilio (Nya), Andres, Allise (Cory), Tyanna, Johanna, Tyler, and Tyrese, her 9 great-grandchildren, Jasiah (Uniqua Young), Taliya, Taniya, Emerson, Emiliana, Nyomi, Dayton, Harlie, Alice, and her sister-in-law, Virginia Vaughn in addition to a host of nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Elizabeth, Wallace, and Ada Bell; brothers, Frankie Vaughn, and Bobby Vaughn; and her sisters, Irene Valentine, Norene Walls, and Shirley Brown.

Arlene’s life celebration will be held on Thursday, December 29, 2022, at 5 p.m. at Morrissett Funeral & Cremation Service, 6500 Iron Bridge Road, North Chesterfield, VA 23234. Family will receive friends and family one hour prior from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the funeral home. A reception is to follow after the service.