Kenneth J. Ellis, 75, of Greenwood, died Thursday, October 30, 2025, at Indywood Glen Personal Care. Services were held at 11 a.m. on Monday at Williams & Lord Funeral Home. Visitation was from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home. Rev. Lanny Haley officiated. Burial followed in Odd Fellows Cemetery.
Mr. Ellis was born in Greenwood, to Jeff and Marie Ellis on July 10, 1950. Later in his adult life after the passing of his father, his mother remarried to J.M. Fancher who became a father figure to him. Mr. Ellis graduated from Greenwood High School in 1969. After high school Mr. Ellis worked different jobs – some including carpentry work and being a salesperson at a parts store until he joined the City of Greenwood Fire Department where he served for a little over 10 years. Once he left the fire department he opened his first business – Highway 7 Quickstop. he ran his store for several years until he found his true passion – realty. Mr. Ellis started out in Arkansas selling property before he came back to the Mississippi Delta and started working with Coldwell Banker. Eventually, Mr. Ellis started his own realty company (E & H Realty) where he worked as an accomplished broker and realtor. He received many awards and recognitions throughout his career including “Realtor of the Year” in 2018 and being a part of the “Multi-Million Dollar Club” in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. He sold houses in the Greenwood and surrounding areas for close to 30 years. Mr. Ellis also had a love for horses. He spent over 25 years in the horse business.
In his most recent years he enjoyed selling realty part time, cooking for his family and friends, riding around his properties, and watching western movies.
Of all the titles Mr. Ellis has had throughout his life, being “Big Daddy” was almost certainly his favorite. Mr. Ellis had 2 grandsons he spent much time with in the outdoors teaching them about hunting, fishing, riding horses, and taking care of the land. Later in his life, he became a great- “Big Daddy” to 3 little girls. He spoiled his great granddaughters endlessly and almost always giving in to any request they had (especially riding to the barn). Mr. Ellis and his great granddaughters spent many weekends eating ice cream and riding the side by side around his place. Almost anybody you ask will tell you how stubborn and hardheaded Mr. Ellis was, but they will also tell you he loved his friends and family wholeheartedly and would help anyone in need.
Mr. Ellis was preceded in death by a son, John Ellis; his parents; his siblings; and two nieces, Angie Cather and Tonia Flanagan.
Mr. Ellis is survived by a daughter, Jennifer (Trey) Starnes; two grandchildren, Quay (Nikki) and Emerson (Josy); three great grandchildren, Kensly, Kylee, and Kodi-Lynn; a sister-in-law, Vickie Ellis; and nieces and nephews, Haley, Taylor, Jeremy, Lance, and Lindsay.
The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to Mrs. Karen Woodley for taking such wonderful care of our Daddy/Big Daddy. You went above and beyond for him up until his last day. You were the best friend and caretaker he could have had.
The family would also like to thank Indywood for taking great care of him for the past year.
Pallbearers will be Quay Starnes, Emerson Starnes, Jeremy Liddell, Steven Rideout, Bubba Porter and Wes Hunt. Honorary Pallbearers will be Albert Carver, Jimmy Holley, Johnny Summerville, Bobby Grantham, Gert Smith, and Terry Malone.
Wiliams & Lord Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. An online guestbook may be signed at www.williamsandlord.com
