Means, William Ellis

  • Saturday, June 10, 2023
William Means
William Means

William Ellis Means, 77, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, passed away on Tuesday, June 6, 2023, in a local hospital.

He grew up in the South Side Community of Chattanooga. William graduated from Howard High School in 1963. He was a star athlete, track star, captain of the track team, and tight end for the Hustling Tigers football team. After high school, he attended McKenzie College and Chattanooga State. William served in the United States Navy. In 1964, he married Jannie Jones, and they were married for 59 years. William was employed at Signal Mountain Cement Company, now Buzzi Unicem, for 23 years. He attended Second Saint James Missionary Baptist Church and served on the Usher Board.

William was preceded in death by his father, Ralph Means, Sr.; brother, Ralph (Mary Ruth) Means, Jr.; mother, Rosa Mae Pounds Means; stepmother, Arie Means; three brothers-in-law, Freddie Collier, Tillmon Jones, Jr., and Albert “Chuckie” Fifer; sister-in-law, Evella Jones Fifer; first cousin, Charlene Elizabeth Nelson; father and mother-in-law, Tillmon Jones, Sr. and Alma Jones; aunts, Grovenia Pounds Perryman and Ruth Sanders; niece, Inetha Collier Word; and nephew, Freddie Collier, Jr.

Survivors include his wife, Jannie Jones Means; daughters, Kathryn (William) Hall, Sonya Holmes, Tara (Corey) Campbell, and Jannelle Means; brother, Thomas E. (Tempie) Means; brother-in-law, Darnell Jones; sisters-in-law, Alma (Don) Hunt and Lorene Collier and a host of grandchildren; great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews; cousins; other relatives and friends.

William will lie in state on Thursday, June 15, at 9 a.m. at Taylor Funeral Home.

Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m. in the chapel with Pastor Ron B. Cook, Sr. officiating and Minister Stephen Means as the eulogist.

Burial will be on Friday, June 16, at 10:30 a.m. in the Chattanooga National Cemetery.

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