My name is Dashiah L. Ellis and I am the daughter of Valerie McGee Ellis. I’m honored to take a moment to let you know about my incredible mother. The time has come to celebrate and remember Valerie’s life as a life well lived. Valerie McGee was born on March 1, 1966 in Chicago, Illinois. Valerie cherished her alma mater, Jim Hill High School, Class of 1984. There, she was a basketball superstar and a member of the track and field team. After graduation, Valerie received an associate’s degree from Hinds Community College in Mass Communications. Patiently waiting on her soulmate, Valerie met her loving husband, David L. Ellis in 1996. From this union, I, Dashiah L. Ellis, was welcomed into their lives on February 16, 1998. Although I was their only child, she was a mother to many others. My mother was an extraordinarily talented woman who held many titles in numerous organizations. She joined Canadian National Railroad in 2000. Over the course of 20 years, she held many positions at Canadian National where she was employed at the time of her departure. Valerie was preceded in death by her grandparents William and Lucilla Ford; her stepfather, James Harness Sr.; one brother, James Harness Jr.; one nephew, Timothy McGee Jr; her mother-in-law, Annie Ree Ellis; one brother-in-law, Micheal Earl Ellis. Valerie leaves to cherish her memories: her loving husband David L. Ellis, one daughter, Dashiah L. Ellis (me); her mother, Juanita Harness; her aunt, Ida Ruth (Earl Sr.) Thompson; two sisters, Priscilla King with 3 children and Kjuana (Timothy) Perry with two children; 2 brothers, Timothy (Betty) McGee Sr. with 2 children and Jaison (Lenora) Harness with 3 children. Her extended family: father-in-law, Sam Ellis; 2 sister-in-laws, Annie (Charles) Brown with 3 children and Pamela (Herman) Johnson with 3 children; 4 brother-in-laws, Sam Ellis Jr with 3 children, James (Shelia) Ellis with 2 children, Dennis (DeDe) Ellis with 2 children and Robert (Pamela) Ellis with 5 children. My mother always had enough love to go around whether it was to my father, me, her siblings, aunt, cousins, nieces, nephews, godchildren, extended family, CN family, church family, or friends. You have never met a more patient, loving, and strong woman than my mother. I celebrate her life with you today and I look forward to the day when I’m reunited with her at the pearly gates and see her amazing smiles.