ENIGMA — Donna Rae Ellis, 71, of Enigma went home to be with the Lord on Friday, Dec. 18, 2009. She passed away at her daughter and son-in-law’s home in Lizella after a valiant battle with health issues.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Monday at Eastside Baptist Church with the Rev. Tommy McDonald officiating. Burial will follow at Tift Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 tonight at Albritton-Beaumont Funeral Directors.

Thurman Ellis, Ralph Rowell, Jeff Ellis, Nolan Kittrell, Chris Riner and Nathan Kittrell will serve as pallbearers.

Donna was born in Bayard, Neb., on April 12, 1938, to Jake and Alma Bolger. She spent most of her childhood in Denver, Colo., and moved to Georgia when she married George E. Ellis on July 2, 1955. They raised their family in Swainsboro for 22 years before moving to the Tifton area.

Donna worked in the textile industry for 30 years, retiring in 2001. She was the rock of her family, selflessly devoting all of her free time to nurturing and caring for her husband, siblings, mother and father-in-law, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Donna loved movies and music and could sing like a nightingale. She was a huge animal lover and gave generously to all types of animal causes as well as other varied charities. Donna raised her children to believe in the Lord and was a member of Eastside Baptist Church.

Mrs. Ellis was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 51 years, George; her daughter, Jessica Rae Ellis Hosmer; and brother, Stan Bolger. She leaves to treasure her memory a sister, Faye Cavaleri, Beaumont, Texas; brother, Al (Margaret) Bolger, Denver, Colo.; daughter, Dawn (Nolan) Kittrell, Lizella; son, Frank Ellis, Swainsboro; grandchildren, Chris (Michelle) Riner, Nathan Kittrell, Laura, Anna, and Jacob Ellis; and great-grandchildren, Braylon Riner, Brittany Parrish and Skylar Riner.

Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, Tift County Unit, P. O. Box 7514, Tifton, GA 31793.

You may sign the registry online at www.albritton-beaumontfuneralhome.com.

Albritton-Beaumont Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.