He was born on June 25, 1929 in Newnan, Georgia.  He was the son of the Late Maria Goolsby.

He leave to cherish his memory, two sons, Derrick Upshaw and Dominic Upshaw of Newnan, Ga;  three children that he raised, Sharon Ellison of Newnan, Ga., Jimmy Ellison of Hawaii and Napoleon Ellison of Virginia Beach; two grandchildren; one sister, Ollie Favors of Newnan, Ga; two brothers, Tom Goolsby (Flora) of Atlanta, Ga., and Hugh Goolsby of East Point, Ga;  and a host of other relatives and friends.