Ellis Automobile founder Jim Ellis dies at 90
Longtime Georgia broker Jim Ellis, founding father of his namesake auto crew, died Friday at his Duluth, Ga., house, simply weeks after his son Jimmy Ellis, the corporate’s CEO, died, the Ellis circle of relatives stated.
Jim Ellis was once 90. No reason behind demise was once shared.
All Jim Ellis Automobile places will shut Wednesday for his funeral, consistent with posts at the corporate’s web page and Fb web page.
“Mr. Ellis leaves in the back of a long-lasting legacy as a Christian, industry chief, good friend and servant within the Atlanta group and within the automobile trade,” the circle of relatives wrote in a observation. “Little did he know that his sacrifice 51 years in the past, striking all he had at the line to open a Volkswagen dealership in Chamblee, would repay in some way that would supply jobs for just about 1,700 Atlanta-area citizens and lead to thousands and thousands of greenbacks contributed to other folks in want in metro Atlanta communities.”
Born Jan. 5, 1932, Jim Ellis labored a spread of jobs in his more youthful years, together with insurance coverage, farm paintings, a milk and paper path and as a jail foreman, consistent with his obituary.
After learning industry in school and serving two years within the U.S. Military, Ellis in the end ended up within the automobile global running for Common Motors. He and his spouse of 69 years, Billie Sammons Ellis, who he’s survived by means of, cashed of their financial savings, her retirement fund and took out a mortgage to open their first dealership, Jim Ellis Volkswagen, in 1971.
That dealership grew into many, and Jim Ellis Automobile now sells 17 manufacturers of cars around the larger Atlanta subject. Jimmy Ellis took over as CEO of the corporate in 2015 till his demise Nov. 5. He was once 67.
Jim Ellis is also survived by means of two daughters who grasp company officer roles inside the corporate, which in a observation stated is now being led by means of a 3rd technology of members of the family following the deaths of the 2 leaders.
Philanthropy additionally was once essential to Jim Ellis. Greater than $50 million has been donated to Atlanta subject organizations during the Jim and Billie Ellis Basis.
Their son Greg Ellis, who had schizophrenia, died in 2000 at age 40. The similar month their son died, the Ellises created the basis that distributes annual items to charities, together with the ones reaping benefits psychological well being.
“We experience doing it,” Ellis advised Automobile Information in 2013. “You do not do it for the popularity however for the pleasure of seeing how some other folks reply to what you give them to fill that want.”
