Lelia “Yvonne” Ellis Wilhelm, 80, of Roanoke Rapids, passed away on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at ECU Medical Center in Greenville, NC.

Ms. Wilhelm was born on April 10, 1946, in Halifax County, the daughter of the late Pearl Malone Ellis and Willie Charles Ellis. She was also preceded in death by her lifelong companion, Bennie Lee Acree; and her siblings, Glenda Ellis Smith, Ida Ellis Gregory, Willie Gray Ellis, Waverly Green Ellis, and Thomas Jackson Ellis.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Lisa Wright and her husband, Michael "Mike", of Whitakers; her son, Jeff Wilhelm and his wife, Susan, of Roanoke Rapids; her brothers, Charles Ellis of Florida and Lloyd Earl Ellis and his wife, Beverly, of Roanoke Rapids; her grandchildren, Michael Christian Wright and his wife, Kerri, and Lyndsey Megan Campbell; and her great-grandchild, Riley Gray Wright; many nieces, nephews, other family and friends.

A service to celebrate Ms. Wilhelm’s life will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, September 18, 2026, at Chockoyotte Baptist Church, with Pastor Henry Stevens officiating. Burial will follow in Old Cedarwood Cemetery. The family welcomes friends to join them in remembering and honoring Yvonne’s life. Friends may sign the online register by visiting www.hockadayfs.com. Hockaday Funeral & Cremation Service is serving the Wilhelm family during this time.