Ella Channell

Mrs. Ella Andrews Channell was born in East Orange, New Jersey, on December 22, 1927, to Avert and Judith Toles Andrews. She was the 9th child out of 10 siblings.  Her father said that she looked like a little redheaded monkey when she was born, thus came her beloved nicknamed “Monk”.

She joined Mt. Sinai Church of God Holiness in East Orange at an early age.  This is where she began her walk with Christ.  St. John 10:16 says, “Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; them I must bring”. She and a few other sisters worshiped under the auspices of the National Convention of the Churches of God Holiness at a Mission on Parrow Street in East Orange, New Jersey. Now the Mission could be described as a small group of people worshiping together usually in some-one’s home. While there, she was on the Youth Choir and was the Secretary of Sunday School. She was an entrepreneur at the tender age of 10 selling wood.  Along with wood, she sold coal and removed aluminum from gum wrappers, which assisted with World War II efforts.  In 1948, she and her uncle opened a Dry-Cleaning business as business partners in East Orange, N.J. As you can see, she was a hustler at heart.

One day, God gave Ella the love of her life by the name of James Harvis Channell and he swept her off her feet.  In 1950, Zelma Harris and Needa Watts (Bolton) introduced them to each other at the National Convention. Later they were united in Holy Matrimony on August 11, 1951, and the two became one flesh.  To that beautiful union were 2 bouncing babies who were the joy of her life, a son Sherwood Harvis (Valencia) Channell of Greenville, SC, and LaJudith Brent Channell (Sonni) Green of Lithonia, GA; six grandchildren, Ayesha Sheree (Malik) Hall, Avery Harvis Channell, ShirMaya Tyree Channell, India Tatyana Channell, Hadiyah Imani Channell Green and Micah Harvis Channell Green; three great-grandchildren, Malik Khalil Jamier Hall, Kayah Malina Lizette Hall and Asah Khalise Samarah Hall. God had truly blessed this marriage for 68 years.

In 1951, she moved to Greenville, SC and became a member of Bethel Church of God Holiness. She sang on the Junior Choir, Senior Choir, was on the Kitchen Committee, Coordinator of the Sunshine Band Christmas and Easter Program, Secretary of Sunday School, Recording Secretary, and Financial Secretary of the Church. Ella was employed with Allen Music Company for 18 years. Later, she worked for the Greenville County School District at three different high schools, JL Mann, Carolina, and Southside. She strived to insure every student had the tools to succeed.  As a counselor/clerk, she would reach out to the students giving them encouraging words.  This caring nature continued at home. The neighborhood children would often run to her when they would get scrapes and bruises. She loved to care for their minor injuries making her like the neighborhood nurse. Ella was an avid music lover. She was one of the members of the singing group “The Bethel Stars”. She was best known throughout the National Convention for her solo on the songs “Peace Be Still” and “I said I Wasn’t Gonna Tell Nobody”. Many days, she could be heard singing to her caregivers the song “He’s All I Need”.