This memorial website was created in the memory of our loved one, Joe Ellison, who was born on September 1, 1951 and passed away on November 28, 2010. We will remember his gentleness, kindness, intelligence, and quiet dignity forever.

If there is truth in the saying "we make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give'', then the life of Joseph Ellison was a shining example of such truth. 

Born September 1, 1951 in Summerton, South Carolina to Sylvester and Leila Ellison, Joseph was raised from infancy in Detroit Michigan , a city he never strayed far from . It is where he met and married JoAnn Anderson with whom he had and raised two sons, Jason Lamar and Damian Jarreau both of whom are deceased . 

An alumni of Cass Technical High School Joseph attended and graduated from Michigan State University where he earned a degree in Systems and Computer Science. With a gift for best-practice project management and software quality assurance, Joseph demonstrated time after time his ability to deliver effective solutions as evidenced by a long list of satisfied clients including Dow Chemical, Navistar Int'l ., Digital Equipment, Sybase Inc. , and Owens-lllinois. Among the companies fortunate enough to receive his services were Net Star PricewaterhouseCoopers, Hewlett-packard (formerly Digital Equipment), and more recently, Iknowvate Technologies and Capgemini Consulting .

His awards and affiliations included membership in the Project Management Institute both the Joliet Townhouse and community-based non-profit Joy-Southfield Community Development Board of Directors; a three -time recipient of Digital Services Circle of Excellence Award; co-inventor on patents for Adaptive Electronic Engine Control Systems; co-inventor on patents for Intelligent Process Control Communication Systems.

Among his hobbies Joseph enjoyed photography and jazz. He was an avid and prolific reader a superb bowler and for a time played the cornet. Joseph was an active and long-time member of Second Grace United Methodist. He was an excellent father and provider and raised his sons to be strong, proud, intelligent, loving, and self-sufficient all traits that defined himself.

Joseph was preceded in death by his father Sylvester Ellison and both his sons, Jason Lamar and Damian Jarreau . He is survived by his mother Leila Ellison; three brothers Johnny Ellison, Greg Ellison, and Carl Ellison; one sister, Sylvia Ellison; and a host of aunts uncles cousins and other relatives and friends.