Hours before he died, John Ellzey was almost asleep in his hospital bed when he overheard his friend Karen Dunaway mention the Manship House in a conversation with his sister Sandra.
Suddenly, Ellzey spoke up.
"The Manship House was the home of Jackson's mayor in 1857. It's right behind Baptist Hospital, and it's Greek Revival and Gothic," Ellzey said in the last full sentence his friend would ever hear him speak.
“Only John Ellzey would feel compelled to issue from his death bed full information on a historic house,” Dunaway said.
To those who knew John Ellzey, that story should come as no surprise. Ellzey’s knowledge of local history was legendary.
Ellzey, longtime reference librarian at Ricks Memorial Library, local historian, published author, and lover of all things Yazoo died Sunday morning at age 69. Many Yazooans are mourning the loss of a man who was one of the community’s biggest supporters.
“Long after most of us are forgotten, Yazooans will still be reading his research and looking at collections of pictures that will preserve history forever,” said Mary Ellen Keith, a lifelong friend.
Over the four decades he spent at Ricks Memorial Library, Ellzey developed a reputation as authority on local history.
“He was a walking encyclopedia of Yazoo history,” said former Ricks Library Director Paul Cartwright, who worked with Ellzey for years. “We share a mutual love of genealogy and antiques, and he helped with our estate sales for years. His love of antiques rivals any person in the state, along with preserving local art and architecture.”
Lisa Morgan Thibodeaux said she first met Ellzey when she worked for The Yazoo Herald in the mid 80s, and she was impressed with his love of Yazoo.
“I remember John always having a dedicated interest in preserving the history of Yazoo City and genuine support for our hometown’s future,” she said.
“He always had a smile and a kind word,” said Sheri Cleveland, who recently got assistance from Ellzey in researching the history of her home. “His love of history and people was extraordinary.”
David Rae Morris, son of the late Yazoo author Willie Morris, said he was grateful for Ellzey’s help with his documentary film “Yazoo Revisited.”
“I have no doubt it is a better film because of his guidance,” Morris said.
Bettye Crout, who worked with Ellzey as the library’s outreach director in the late 70s and remained a lifelong friend, remembered him always being enthusiastic about the library’s programs.
“It is hard to believe he is no longer there at the library,” Crout said. “He and I worked on many projects and had more work to do. He was extraordinary.”
When Ellzey discovered social media, he reached many Yazooans who had never met him before. Ellzey posted hundreds of historical photographs on Facebook, often seeking information from anyone who might remember details that had not been documented.
Ellzey was particularly proud of his book Yazoo, a pictorial history of Yazoo that was published in 2014. He was recognized by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History in 2009 for documenting Mississippi's history and by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 2012 for preserving local history.
In addition to sharing his historical knowledge, Ellzey was also eager to assist with other services at the library.
Melvin Green remembered Ellzey for helping him enlist in the military.
“He was a very good guy,” Green said.
Ellzey was also almost alway present at community events.
“There were not many community events where I did not see John participating and attending,” said Willye Neal Thomas, who met Ellzey when he helped her research her family history in 2011. “He supported the Oakes Community Choir concerts, Lifesavers events, and countless other organizations. We will all mourn his passing.”
“John was kind and gentle, and always friendly to everyone,” said Melinda Dees. “He had a beautiful smile, and love Yazoo and it’s history – both rich and poor.”
Funeral arrangements were pending with Stricklin-King Funeral Home at press time. A memorial service will be announced at a later date.
“John Ellzey was a Yazoo County icon,” said Delaine Stoner. “With his charming and gentlemanly Southern drawl, John will be greatly missed. There is now a huge void in Yazoo County that I dare say would be hard to ever fill.”
