Service Announcements

Ms. Mildred Ellneta Long, 103, of Charlotte, passed away on Monday, June 24, 2019 at Asbury Health Care Charlotte, NC. Funeral service will be held Tuesday, July 2, 2019 at Rock Hill AME Zion Church 2723 Lawyers Rd. West Indian Trail, NC . Visitation will begin at 11:00 am and the service will follow at 12:00 pm. Interment will be in the Church Cemetery.

Mildred Ellneta Long was the third child of the late Lem Long, Sr. and Addie Black Long. Born in Union County, NC, on April 7, 1916, she was blessed to celebrate birthdays 100, 101, 102 and 103 with family and friends.  She entered into eternal rest on Tuesday afternoon, June 24, 2019, at Asbury Health and Rehabilitation Center, Charlotte, NC.

Five siblings preceded her in death: Verlia Long Black, Mary Long Campbell, Ona R. Long, Bletha Long Vaughn and Lem Long, Jr.

Family members never called her Mildred; consequently, friends and acquaintances knew her as Ellneta. To many family members she was “Neta”.

Ellneta was born into a Rock Hill African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church family and became a member of the church at an early age.  She was a faithful servant.  During her active years, she served as Sunday School secretary, Sunday School teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, Church School Convention delegate and Class Leader. She also served on  the Stewardess Board and Board of Trustees.

Upon completion of  grade school in Union County, NC, Ellneta moved to Charlotte, NC and continued her education at Second Ward High School, graduating in 1937.  Following graduation, a job prospect took her to Greensboro, NC. While in Greensboro, she enrolled at Bennett College. She eventually returned to Charlotte, NC to work.  Determined to continue her education, she enrolled in summer sessions at Johnson C. Smith University in pursuit of a Bachelor of Arts in English. She retired from Mecklenburg Farmers Cooperative Exchange (FCX) where she worked as an egg inspector under the auspices of the United States Department of Agriculture.

For numerous years, Ellneta and her sister Bletha were instrumental in organizing Rock Hill’s annual homecoming celebration.  It was Ellneta who published the first edition of  a church newsletter.  She did it by hand and had it mimeographed.  The early publications included her art work.  In later years, with the introduction of technology, her niece (Brenda Long Sanders) took over the publication and it became THE ROCK.; however, it will always be Ellneta’s newsletter.

Left to cherish fond memories are one sister, Mrs. Dora L. Johnson of Charlotte, NC; five nieces: Mrs. Brenda L. Sanders (Charles), whom she reared; Ms.  Peggye  L. Johnson, Mrs. Addie V. McNeil, and Ms. Linda V. Izzard, all of Charlotte, NC; Mrs. Deloris C. Cureton (Robert) of Decatur, Georgia; two nephews: Mr. Raeford Johnson (Claudette), and Mr. Donald Johnson (Sheila), all of Charlotte, NC, numerous  nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.