Kimberly Michelle Ellis was born Thursday, June 5, 1969, at 3:15pm at MCV in Richmond, Virginia. She was the daughter of Doris M. Ellis and Joseph A. Ellis Sr. She entered peacefully into the arms of Jesus on Thursday morning, July 18, 2024, with her mother holding her hand. Kim was predeceased by her Daddy and her Loving Grandparents, Lawrence and Grace Ellis and Joseph and Herma Ellis.

Kim was baptized and joined Jerusalem Baptist Church at an early age. She was active in Sunday School, Baptist Training Union, and all activities of the church until she moved away for college. She remained a loyal supporter and contributor of Jerusalem Baptist Church until her death.

Kim attended kindergarten at Mt. Nebo Baptist Church, Surry, Virginia and graduated in June 1975. She attended Surry County Public Schools and graduated from L.P. Jackson Elementary School, Dendron, Virginia as class Salutatorian in June 1982. Kim entered Surry County High School that September determined to work hard and be the best student possible; not only for herself, but for her parents, teachers, and fellow Cougars. She could be seen after school on any given day tutoring athletes to be certain that they maintained academic eligibility.

Kim was crowned the 1986-1987 "Homecoming Queen" of Surry County High School. She graduated Valedictorian of the Class of 1987. Upon graduation, Kim was accepted for admission at several colleges and universities. She decided that she wanted to be an "Aggie" and attend North Carolina A &T State University in Greensboro, NC to major in Computer Science. Upon receiving her high school transcript and SAT scores. Kim was contacted by the Business Department there and they offered her a full scholarship to change her major to Accounting,

While matriculating at NC A&T, Kim maintained an exceptional GPA, interned with top corporations, and received numerous scholarships, based on submitted applications and essays. After her sophomore year, Kim interned with General Electric in North Carolina. While there she developed a computer program in their Finance Department, that the company used for years.

Kim was chosen out of over one hundred applicants to receive a scholarship from the National Association of Black Accountants in 1990. The award was presented to her in Los Angeles California by Jayne Kennedy, renowned TV Personality and Sports Commentator. To quiet potential skeptics, Kim also applied that same year, to the National Association of Accountants for a scholarship. She won that one as well, proving that she could compete with anyone on any level.

Kim graduated from NC A&T in May of 1991 academically ranked in the top five of over 1,500 graduates. In 1992, she passed the exam and became a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Kim accepted an offer from General Electric in Waukesha, Wisconsin after graduation, as a Financial Analyst. She was later transferred to a plant in Charlottesville, Virginia and remained there until 1995 when she decided to pursue her Doctoral Degree. It was also that year when Kim became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.

Kim applied and was accepted at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. Her major course of study was Strategic Management with an emphasis on Acquisitions and Mergers. While a student at FSU she was also a Research and Teaching Assistant in the School of Business from 1997-2000. She received her Ph.D in May 2000.

Kim now Dr. Ellis accepted a position as Assistant Professor at Michigan State University in Lansing, Michigan beginning the Fall Semester of 2000. She remained at MSU until she grew tired of the extra cold winters. She decided to move to sunny Florida and accepted a position at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida in 2008. She started as an Associate Professor of Management and became a Full Professor in the Spring of 2023. She remained on the faculty until her death.

During 2014 - 2015 Dr. Ellis was a visiting Research Fellow, Faculty of Social Services, Department of Management Studies at the University of West Indies at the campus of Barbados.

Kim loved to research and publish her work. She authored and co-authored numerous articles that were accepted for publication. Her mentor/professor from FSU said she was one of the best researchers in the country. Her work has been published in the Academy of Management Journal, Strategic Management Journal, Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, Journal of Business Ethics, and others.

Kim was a member of numerous professional organizations near and dear to her heart such as the Strategic Management Association (SMA). Her affiliation with SMA spans over 20 years. She loved to assist in annual conference planning in the states and around the world. She was a member and board member of the Management Faculty of Color Association. Other affiliations and honors include Founding Board Member of the Editorial Board, African Journal of Management since 2015, Member of the Journal of International Business Studies since 2017, Memberships Academy of Management, African Academy, Academy of Management, Member of the Southern Management Association, Member of the American Institute of CPA's, Member of the Virginia Society of CPA's, 2011 & 2019 "Scholar of the Year" Associate Professor Level, College of Business at FAU, Best Paper in Track Award in 2017 (SMA), Best Review in Track Award 2019 (SMA).

In addition, Kim developed and taught an undergraduate course focused on Diversity in the Workplace. It was offered at FAU for the first time in the Spring of 2021. Now the course is listed in the University Catalog (MAN3013-Managing Organizational Diversity). She was actively redesigning aspects of other courses to create more inclusive environments that consider the diversity of our student population.

Regardless of her status and accolades Kim remained a "down to earth country girl." She had close friends around the world, and she took pleasure in sharing her time, talents, and resources with them. After all, Kim loved God and her family. There was nothing she would not do for them within her power.

She leaves to forever cherish her memory and legacy her loving and devoted mother, Doris M. Ellis, one sister, Keisha M. Ellis, one brother, Joseph A. Ellis Jr. "Joey", one sister-in-love, Danielle T. Ellis, her six nephews and nieces whom she loved "immensely" Keion Montel, Keionna Michelle, Joseph III "Tre", Keivon Montrel, Joelle "JoJo", and Jaedan Pernell; godson, Lawrence Michael Ellis; seven aunts, Grace L. Jones (Tyronne), A. Jane Ellis, Janet Gibbs, Carolyn Montier (Gerald), Brenda Ellis, Mirian Ellis and Aretha Rawlings (Darryl); five uncles, Larry Ellis (Debra), Charlie Ellis (Geneva), Herman Ellis, Craig Ellis (Karen), John Ellis (Kimberly); three great aunts, Emily Clayton, Jerline Elliott, Elizabeth Jones (Stanley); seven special 1st cousins, Sophenia Ellis, Darrell Jones, Robert Palmer Jr., Amy Johnson, William Palmer, Shanika Baker, Pamela Jones-Hill; "Bestest Friend" Rev. Lenroy Jones; godmother, Catherine Byrd other relatives and a "world" of colleagues and friends.  We thank God for the life of Kimberly Michelle Ellis!

A Celebration of Life Service will be 12Noon Saturday, July 27, 2024, at Jerusalem Baptist Church, 6512 Carsley Road, Waverly, Virginia, Rev. George Ellis Brown, Pastor and Eulogist.  Interment will follow at Jerusalem Baptist Memorial Gardens, Waverly, VA.

Public Viewing will be 10:00am - 6:00pm Friday, July 26, 2024, at Peace Funeral Home 237 Railroad Avenue, Waverly, Virginia,

Please keep the Ellis Family uplifted in prayer.

Click link below to watch livestream:

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