Ella Mae, as she was affectionately called from birth, was born Dec. 10, 1935, in Courtland, to the late Edell Artis Sr. and Rosa Mae (Turner) Artis. She died Friday, May 10, 2013, at Sentara Obici Hospital in Suffolk. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Edell Artis Jr.

She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Jessie Warren “Bud Lawrence” Jr.; their only child, Ruby “Rene” Holland (Lloyd Sr.); four grandchildren, Lloyd Jr., Shontala (Glenn Jr.), Sidney (Damanique) and Lillian; 11 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Princess, Jeraline and Mary (Herbert); three brothers, Clarence, William T. (Peggy), Alphonso (Willie Mae); two aunts, Frances Givens and Daughtie Turner; three brothers-in-law, Melvin (Margie), Henry (Rosemary) and Sherman (Carol); one sister-in-law, Rosa Lee; two very, very loving and devoted caretakers, Mrs. Gwynn Parrish and Ms. Chryster Smith; a very longtime devoted friend, Mrs. Rosa Lee Alston; and a host of other family members and friends.

The funeral will be held Thursday, May 16, at 2 p.m. at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 1351 Whitemarsh Road, Suffolk. Funeral discourse will be given by Brother Samuel Bullock. Funeral services have been entrusted to Harris Funeral Home.