COLUMBUS — The Rev. Willie James Ellis, 62, died Jan. 12, 2009, at UAB Hospital-Birmingham, Ala. Services were Monday at noon at Stephen Chapel M.B. Church in Columbus with Elder Steve James officiating. Burial followed in Memorial Garden. Carter’s Funeral Services of Columbus is in charge of arrangements. The Rev. Ellis was born April 25, 1947, in Aliceville, Ala., to the late Jimmy and Queen Esther Stewart Ellis. He was a bus driver for the Columbus City Schools. He was also of former pastor of Pleasant Ridge M.B. Church, Beulah Grove M.B. Church, Springhill M.B. Church and Greater Mount Moriah M.B. Church in Jackson. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Henry, Robert and Edward Ellis, and sister, Sarah Johnson. He is survived by his wife, Ruthie Ellis, of Steens; son, Joseph Ellis; daughter, Jackie Ellis Craddieth, of Columbus; brothers, the Rev. Jimmy, Emmitt and Earnest Ellis; sisters, Annie Black, of Macon, and Sallie Jones, of Columbus. Pallbearers were Elbert, Earnest and Jeffery Ellis, Howard and Willie Marshall, Lonsell and Matthew Black, and James Rucker.