Sanford Obit: Deborah Ann (Pearson) Ellison

June 9, 1952 ~ June 26, 2025 (age 73)

With hearts full of love we celebrate the beautiful life of Mrs. Deborah Ann Pearson Ellison, age 73, of Sanford, NC. On Thursday, June 26, 2025, surrounded by her family in the comfort of her home, Deborah peacefully transitioned into eternal rest.

Born on June 9, 1952, in Broadway, NC, Deborah was the beloved daughter of the late Harold and Gladys Pearson. She attended the Lee County School System and went on to earn her Adult High School Diploma from Central Carolina Community College.

Deborah was welcomed into eternal rest by her parents, Harold and Gladys Pearson; her devoted husband, Alford Ellison; her sister, Joyce Thomason; her great-grandson, Nehemiah Ellison; and her son-in-law, Jim McCrathy.

Her love lives on through her children: Linda Ellison (Timothy) of Sanford, NC, Alford Ellison (Michelle) of Sanford, NC, and Bridget Ellison of Winston-Salem; eleven treasured grandchildren: Marcus Ellison (Ja’Mielle) of Conroe, TX, Tony Rives (Daviyah) of Sanford, NC, Debra Rives (Jordan) of Pittsboro, NC, AJ Ellison of Raleigh, NC, Elton Ellison, Mia Knight, Bridgett Ellison, and Destiny Ellison of Sanford, NC; Zuri Gonzalez (Aurelio), Aniya Ellison, and Makayla Ellison from Winston-Salem, NC; fifteen beautiful great-grandchildren; one brother, Lee Harold Pearson (Brenda) of Sanford, NC; two uncles, Rufus Yarborough of Sanford, NC and Charles Bryant of Florida; one aunt, Fannie Headen of Sanford, NC; one brother-in-law, Willie Hightower of Charlotte, NC and her lifelong loving friend, Kenneth Cox, who loved and cherished her deeply.

Wake Service

Wednesday
July 2, 2025
12:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Knotts Funeral Home
719 Wall St.
Sanford, NC 27330

Family Visitation

Wednesday
July 2, 2025
3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Knotts Funeral Home
719 Wall St.
Sanford, NC 27330Professional services entrusted to Knotts Funeral Home-Sanford, NC

Knotts Funeral Home719 Wall Street, Sanford, NC 27330 Phone: 919-776-4345 / Fax: 919-776-0911

Knotts Funeral Home 50 Masonic Street, Pittsboro, NC 27312 

Phone: 919-542-6180/Fax: 919-776-0911Knotts Funeral Home113 N. Graham Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27516 Phone:919-968-7780/ Fax: 919-968-7601knottsfuneralhome@gmail.com

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