Staley mayor dies
By Judi Brinegar
Staff Writer, The Courier-Tribune
STALEY - Staley Mayor James Holt "Jimmy" Ellington died Friday
after a year-long battle with prostate cancer.
Ellington, 60, was serving his second term as mayor of the small Randolph
County town and had been active in office up until December.
Mayor Pro-tem Karen Scotton will serve as mayor until municipal elections
are held in November.
Ellington was a native of Chatham County, a U.S. Army veteran of the
Vietnam War and owner/operator of Ellington's Meat Shoppe in Staley.
Town commissioner Sarah Elizabeth "Lib" Marley served on the
Staley Town Board with Ellington.
"He was a good person," Marley said. "He would listen
to everyone when they came to him with their problems. We sure will miss
him."
In 2003, incumbent Ellington ran unopposed for mayor, saying that his
qualifications were being a good citizen and wanting to do things for the
citizens of Staley.
During his time in office, he worked on zoning issues, street issues
and the upkeep of the Staley Cemetery. He tried to get water in the town
by pursuing grant money to help reach that goal.
Steve Rollins, Mayor Pro-tem during Ellington's first term and currently
a Staley town commissioner, had high praise for Ellington. "He was
one of the best mayors we've had and did a real good job," he said.
Ellington's wife Lu Ann said that he loved his job as mayor very, very
much.
"He had a lot of compliments on the job he did as mayor," she
said. "He thoroughly enjoyed it, but he had a good board behind him.
That's what made it possible. He also tried his best to get everything done
that people wanted, everything that the town could afford.
"He truly loved everybody and everybody loved him."
Copyright 2002, Stephens Media Group
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