Jana Marie Ellerbee

Jana Marie Ellerbee, a kind and gentle soul, passed away peacefully of natural causes on August 27, 2024, at the age of 75, in her hometown of Columbus, GA.

Jana was born on November 13, 1948, to Mavis and Oscar Ellerbee, Jana earned her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Early Childhood Education at Columbus College. Jana was a passionate educator at Forrest Road Elementary, dedicating her life to nurturing the minds of young children. The lessons she taught, both in and out of the classroom, will continue to resonate with all who had the privilege of knowing her: with a resounding impact on three generations of students. In addition to conveying her joy through the choir, Jana exemplified her faith by welcoming everyone with an open heart, consistently prioritizing the needs of others above her own. Her personal mottos were: "love the unloved" and "peace be with you”. Jana loved being a mother and grandmother, animals, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, a good rocking chair, and fishing with her brother and sister. She also loved singing, reading, sewing, and baking sweets. Jana is survived by her children Katie Black (Scott), Nathan Jones (Carrie), Rachel Jones, and Josh Mills (Jessica); siblings Esther Crochet and Leo Ellerbee; and grandchildren Kellum, Sam, Gage, and Marigold.

A church service will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday,  August 31, 2024 at 5510 Veterans Pkwy, Columbus GA, with a celebration of life to follow.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Jana’s memory to Muscogee County Library Foundation at https://bit.ly/loving_jana.