William was born to the union of the late Harold and Lula Bell McNeil Ellis on a snowy evening, in Mobile, Alabama, February 12, 1973.

William's family's history in Mobile dates back to 1860 when two wealthy plantation owners bet each other they could travel to Africa and return with a cargo of slaves to Mobile, even though the importation of new slaves from Africa was illegal. William's great grandfather, Pollee Allen, was onboard the ship, Clotilde, alongside Cudjoe Kazoola Lewis when it returned to Alabama. The men were immediately freed upon arrival and they settled in Africa Town with others from the Clotilde. While Africa Town residents retained many African traditions and customs, they converted to Christianity.

William accepted Christ as his Savior at an early age and was baptized at Union Baptist Church. William later joined the Mt. Olive #1 Church family.

William was a proud graduate of McGill-Toolen High School. He was a sports enthusiast and his ability to recall statistics was mindboggling. Needless to say, he played basketball quite well. He loved the Yellowjackets and the Baltimore Ravens. Alabama, not so much... Prior to retiring for health reasons, William was employed by MAWSS for fifteen years.

Bill, or WallyMoon, as he was affectionately called, liked to "touch bases" with his friends and family. He cared for them wholeheartedly, reminisced with them often, and prayed for them without fail.

William was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Jacqueline Ellis, and brother Harold Ellis, Jr.

William was the beloved husband of Courtney Davis-Ellis for thirteen years. Besides his wife, he leaves three sisters and one brother: Cynthia (Roger) Evans, Sharon (Harold) Gregg, Mary (Luther) McLean, and Darryl C. Ellis; two nephews: Careem (Taylor) Ellis and Roger Evans, Jr.; one niece; Carmeedra Spears; father and mother-in-law, Ezzard "Butch" (Sybil) Davis; a host of cousins, six devoted, Michael (Dorothy) Ellis, Larry (Beatrice) Pickens, Michael Waugh, Tony Waugh, Herman (Belinda) Hall, and Ceasar Smith, two uncles: Alfred (Cecilia) Ellis and Walter Napier; four aunts: Gladys Lee, Joyce Patterson, Sharon Smith and Yvonne Olds; a God sister: Dr. Barbara Wheat, a God brother: Mastaki Smith; special friends: Kim Hancock and Tivella Davis, and a host of other relatives and friends.

His remains will lie in state from 1-8pm on Friday, February 2, 2018 at Small’s Mortuary, Mobile, AL. A visitation will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2018 from 9am until the 11am funeral hour at Mt. Olive #1 Baptist Church, 409 Lexington Street, Mobile, AL. Interment will follow in Plateau Cemetery, Plateau, AL.

DIGNIFIED AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES ENTRUSTED TO SMALL'S MORTUARY, 950 SOUTH BROAD STREET, MOBILE, ALABAMA, 36603

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