Joanne Allyson Ellis

Joanne Allyson Rolland Ellis was born in 1963 in Pennsylvania. She moved to Georgia as a young child and attended Marist High School. She graduated from the University of Georgia with a BS in Education in 1986, and from Kennesaw State University with a Master’s in Education in 1995. Joanne received additional training and became certified to teach science in the Talented and Gifted (T.A.G.) program. Joanne was a funny, articulate, wonderful person who loved her husband, Jimmy, and her son J.J. more than words can express. She loved Jeeps, boats, and outdoor adventures. She loved champagne and parties and fun times. Joanne was the center of a room, the quiet glue that held a group of friends together, and the “go-to” person for all situations. She was incredibly intelligent, with a wide variety of interests. Her love of science was not just a vocation, but an avocation she pursued daily, especially after J.J. was born. She taught him about bugs and planets and gardens. The students she taught for 28 years, first at Haynes Bridge Middle School, and then at Northwestern Middle School in Fulton County loved her, too. She impacted lives as she stimulated thought and encouraged their personal growth, just as a teacher should. But Joanne was more than a teacher, she was a mentor to others, arriving early to school and staying late. Joanne served as the Science Chair and dedicated herself to helping all students reach their highest potential and helping to mold the best future teachers of science. The greatest achievement of Joanne’s life, though, cannot be listed in bullet form under “accomplishments” so much as it could be seen in the way she looked at her husband, Jimmy, or cradled her son J.J. The love she felt for her family was evidenced in everything she did, and she always placed her child above herself. Her son is incredibly bright because of the influence and teachings of Joanne. We all live on as better people for having known Joanne, for having been touched by her love of life, of family, of learning, and of friends. Joanne identified and assisted those who needed encouragement, those that needed the support of a friend, or just a little leg up. Joanne leaves a legacy that will live on in the hearts and minds of those who knew her. Joanne is survived by her husband, Jimmy, son J.J., mother Joan, brother Bill and his wife Lisa, niece and nephew Carley and Will James and more friends than you can count.

Joanne Allyson Ellis

September 15, 1963 - March 6, 2014