Charletter Radford Ellis (Pinkie) was born February 11, 1954, in Cerulean, Kentucky to the union of Charlie Lee Radford and Augusta Anderson Radford. As a strong believer in Christ, Charletter accepted Christ at an early age and later became a long-time member of Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church (Puryear, TN), which her and Mitchell Ellis, her husband of twenty-seven years made their church home.
Charletter attended and earned her Bachelor of Science in Business Education (Secretarial Option) in May 1977 from Murray State University. Charletter continued her studies at MSU and graduated in May 1980 with her Master of Arts in Education Secondary. No stranger to MSU, Charletter dedicated 41 years of her life and profession as the Executive Assistant for the Mid-America Remote Sensing Center. Charletter loved helping the faculty, staff, and students at Murray State. Charletter served on university committees, at student programs, and was known for her attentiveness as a repeat Miss Black and Gold Pageant judge or Alpha Step Off judge. Charletter truly was a mother figure to so many—both her children’s friends and MSU students.
Charletter actively served the Murray/Calloway community though her tenure of 30 years (appointed 1993) on the Murray-Calloway Transit Authority Board (Recording Secretary—board term to expire 2024), serving on the Main Street Youth Center Board, and actively participating in Murray Independent School District’s Site Based Decision Making Council.
Highly devoted to her family, Charletter leaves to cherish her memory her daughters, Ashley N. Ellis and Amanda E. Curtis; son, Adam D. Ellis; grandsons, Jayden Curtis, Jayce Curtis, Marhinus Ellis; goddaughters, Jada Todd and Robyn Mayfield; godson, MarTeze Hammonds all of Murray, and godson, Hunter Eaves of Louisville, KY. Charletter will be greatly missed by her sisters, Rosie Lee Tandy (Samuel) of Owensboro, KY, Sherrie Radford and Trenia Radford both of Cerulean, KY and Marsha “Allene” Gee (dec. Clarence Jr) of Hopkinsville, KY. Charletter was loved by a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.
Charletter made her transition to eternal life on October 11, 2023, where she joined her parents, Charlie Lee and Augusta Radford; loving husband, Mitchell Ellis; brother, RC Radford; granddaughter Jaymee Michele Curtis “Rocsi”; and stepson, Darren Foster.
The funeral service honoring the life of Mrs. Charletter Radford Ellis is set for 2 pm on Thursday, October 19, 2023 at the Heritage Chapel of Imes Funeral Home, 1804 Highway 121 Bypass North, Murray. Pastor Thomas Taylor and Pastor Moses Radford will officiate. A private burial will take place at Murray City Cemetery.
Her family welcomes visitors from 12 pm – 2 pm on Thursday, October 19, 2023 at the Heritage Chapel.
Please join family and friends in honoring the life of Mrs. Charletter Ellis by visiting www.imesfh.com and posting your tributes and memories.