Obituaries
Lydia Ellen Cordell
Date of Death or Service Feb 4, 2024
Lydia Ellen Cordell, age 87 of White Bluff, TN passed away peacefully at home on Sunday February 4, 2024 surrounded by her family and music. Ellen was the daughter of the late Clarence Carner Brown, Sr. and Thelma Kelley Brown of Taylor Town in White Bluff, TN.
Ellen was incredibly proud of her work at National Life Insurance of Nashville, TN and loved to share stories about her time there. A woman of strong Christian faith, she joy in her family, the outdoors, and service to her community by baking for others, mowing her neighbors yards, and also in her time as a city council member in Richard City, TN.
Along with her parents, Ellen is preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Billy F. Cordell; her brothers, Lonnie, Donnie, and Carner Brown; her sister, Estelle Long; her daughter-in-law, Janice Cordell. Ellen was blessed by a large family.
Survivors include her son, Steve Cordell (Kathy Harris) of White Bluff, TN; her daughters, Patti (Kevin) Collins of Charleston, SC, Deborah (Lester) Westbrooks of DeLand, FL, and Gail (Jeffrey) Gilliland of Gurley, AL. Ellen has also been blessed with many grandchildren, Valerie (Paul) Ernst, Deanna Collins Theobald, Bryant (Kimberly) Collins, Justin (Amanda) Westbrooks, Luke (Hannah) Westbrooks, Katye Gilliland, Mason (Katelin) Cordell; and many more great and great-great grandchildren.
Ellen was incredibly proud of her work at National Life Insurance of Nashville, TN and loved to share stories about her time there. A woman of strong Christian faith, she joy in her family, the outdoors, and service to her community by baking for others, mowing her neighbors yards, and also in her time as a city council member in Richard City, TN.
Along with her parents, Ellen is preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Billy F. Cordell; her brothers, Lonnie, Donnie, and Carner Brown; her sister, Estelle Long; her daughter-in-law, Janice Cordell. Ellen was blessed by a large family.
Survivors include her son, Steve Cordell (Kathy Harris) of White Bluff, TN; her daughters, Patti (Kevin) Collins of Charleston, SC, Deborah (Lester) Westbrooks of DeLand, FL, and Gail (Jeffrey) Gilliland of Gurley, AL. Ellen has also been blessed with many grandchildren, Valerie (Paul) Ernst, Deanna Collins Theobald, Bryant (Kimberly) Collins, Justin (Amanda) Westbrooks, Luke (Hannah) Westbrooks, Katye Gilliland, Mason (Katelin) Cordell; and many more great and great-great grandchildren.
Her wishes were to be cremated and her ashes rejoined with her beloved husband Bill. There will be an interment ceremony for family and friends at Taylor Town Cemetery at a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, Ellens wish is to donate to her favorite charity, The Shriner’s Hospital.
