Ellis Grey Winstead, Jr.

Ellis Grey Winstead, Jr., 90, died September 2, 2021, at his residence in the Teloga Community of Summerville, GA.

Mr. Winstead was born December 19, 1930. He was the son of the late Dr. Ellis G. Winstead, Sr. and Anne Murphy Winstead. In addition to his mother and father, he was predeceased by his two sisters, Leah Dae W. (James) Younce and Anne W. (Charles) Clark and their husbands.

Mr. Winstead is survived by his wife, Julia S. Winstead; his sons, E. Grey (Faye) Winstead, III and David R. Winstead; and, a daughter, Cynthia (Michael) Stephens. Ellis has four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, six great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Ellis married his childhood sweetheart, "Julie." They fell in love at the tender age of 7 (Ellis) and 6 (Julie), and they often told the story of how Julie would ride on the handlebars of Ellis's bike in the little town of Belhaven, North Carolina, where they were raised. They remained sweethearts through his school years at Fork Union Military Academy, VA and her school years in Pantego, NC. Ellis married Julie in 1952, the same year he graduated from NC State University with a degree in civil engineering. Soon after, he entered the Air Force, serving during the Korean War. In 1953, they began raising a family of their own.

After the Air Force, Ellis worked in the home construction industry and fire insurance underwriting field before settling into a career as a life insurance agent in the early 1960s. Over his six decades in life insurance, he served many clients, most of whom stayed with him until their deaths and then helped the families settle their estates.

Many of his clients and fellow agents became lifelong friends and they shared many adventures together camping, fishing, houseboating on Lake Lanier, raising children, enjoying the fruits of their labors, and helping neighbors in their north Atlanta communities.

In 2003, Ellis and Julie moved from Atlanta to Summerville to join their eldest son, Grey, and his family in the Teloga community. They built a new home on Grey’s farm, and Ellis learned how to become a remote, digitally engaged life insurance agent, long before remote working was the norm. He worked until his failing vision made it too difficult to see and gave up his last two clients in 2020.
Ellis loved working with his hands and used his at-home "shop" to build and repair everything from furniture to boats to electronics. He loved all kinds of fishing and boating. He loved telling jokes and having a good laugh. He loved his family and friends, and they loved him. Most of all he loved the only sweetheart of his life, his wife of 69 years, Julie. He will be missed by all who came to know him. His family is imagining him sharing a laugh with the Almighty as they wait for our arrival one day.  Memorial contributions made to Beersheba Presbyterian Church.

The Rainwater Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorial and celebration of life services will be announced at a later date.