After a lifetime of service to others, The Reverend Hubert Benton Ellison, 86, of Lavonia, Georgia, went to claim his Heavenly reward on June 3, 2013.
Mr. Ellison was born on April 19, 1927, in Dalton, Georgia, the son of James Franklin Ellison, Jr., and Beulah Painter Ellison. He worked as an executive with the Boy Scouts of America for 28 years, leading counsels in North and South Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia, and Florida.
After retiring from Scouting, Mr. Ellison became a United Methodist minister and served churches in Calhoun, Caswell, and Lavonia, Georgia. He earlier attended the University of Chattanooga and Emory University's Divinity School.
Mr. Ellison served in the U. S. Marines in China during World War II and was recalled again during the Korean Conflict.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Frank, sisters Margaret White, Marie Boman, and Rebecca Ellison, and daughter Lee Ella. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Patricia (Pat) Jordan Ellison, daughters Emily Ellison (Chuck Perry) and Jan Ellison (Mike Williams), son Vann Ellison (Lisa), nieces Patti Woodall Furr and Alyce Woodall Grady, seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Devoted husband, father, and grandfather, Mr. Ellison's great loves were nature, gardening, hiking, Scouting, the Methodist Church, poetry, history, Native American culture, and his family.
The visitation will be Wednesday, June 5, from 6-8 p.m. at Strickland Funeral Home of Lavonia. A funeral service will be held on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at the Lavonia United Methodist Church. The Reverend Randall Massengill will officiate. A graveside service will be held Friday at 11:00 a.m. at West Hill Cemetery in Dalton, GA with the Reverend Vann Ellison officiating.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Lavonia United Methodist Church, Providence United Methodist Church (Lavonia), New Echota UMC (Calhoun) or Boy Scout Troop # 51 in Lavonia.